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CHRONOLOGY. 



History of The Two Americas 



BEING A COMPLBTE EPITOME UF 



All the Events of Importance and Interest connected with the Western Hemisphere, 
from the Year 458 to the Year 1878. 

[Copvritrlited. 1878, by Heniiy S. Allen.] 



/It-I .X 






CHRONOLOGY. 



PRB-niSTOEIO EACE9. 

Authentic American liistory dates hack only 
about four centuries. Previous to that period, 
through an almost unlimited age, the existence 
of a vastly numerous and pre-historic race may 
be traced through the ruins of their cities, their 
wonderful caves, and subterranean habitations, 
in which skeletons of some of their ancient in- 
habitants, stone implements of warfare and hus- 
bandry, and pieces of pottery and earthen ves- 
sels of rare and peculiar workmanship and color- 
\v\a. are found. In some of these more perfectly 
constructed mounds, tools of copper, Drass, ana 
silver, and vases of pottery, ornaments, and 
precious stones, have been found. These ancient 
inhabitants also worked the copper mines of 
Lake Superior, and their old pits are still called 
the " ancient diggings." In one of these mines 
a mass of copper was found which weighed over 
forty tons, and which had been separated from 
the original vein by removing the eartli and 
ore, and the surface made smooth by pounding. 
About this huge piece of copper were found the 
very tools those ancient miners had used — stone 
Lajnmers, copper chisels and wedges, OB if the 
workmen liad departed, intending soon to re- 
turn. Upon some of these deserted mines, the 
largest forest trees are found growing, and upon 
a mound near Marietta, Ohio, irere found trees 
which, at least, nmst have seen eight centuries. 
The most marvelous and peculiar of all the relics 
of these ancient inhabitants, are found in the 
valleys of Arizona. Here almost every hill-top 
within a range of 10,000 square miles is cov- 
ered with broken pottery, so perfectly glazed, 
that its bright and varied coloring is well pre- 
served. Here, also, are ruins of buildings four 
stoiies in height, and with walls two feet thick, 
reservoirs, irrigating canals, and fortifications, 
where multitudes of caves are cut in the solid 
rock, and closed by mason-work of stone and 
cemont, which is well preserved. These caves 
are only accessible by means of ladders, and 
the larger ones are bastioned and loop-holed ; 
and an entrance, large enough to admit one 
person only, was made at the top, which con- 
nected with a series of chambers that honey- 
combed the whole mountain, while their walls 
are still black with the smoke from the fires of 
their ancient dwellers. These subterranean 
caverns were evidently prepared with a vast 
iiraount of labor as asylums against a fierce and 
invading foe; and long and cruel must h'ave 
been the warfare which forced them to forsake 
their villages and cultivated fluids and make 
their homes in the roeky depths of the mount- 
ains. Where and liow the last of this numerous 
and wondeiful race were blotted out of existence, 
leaving behind no tradi ion of its origin, will 
forever remain a mystery. 

The ruins of Si)anish cathedrals and towns 
which were in all their glory, when a few half 
Btarved English refugees from oppression were 
struggling for existence on the shores of the 
Potomac Kiver and Plymouth ]5ay, are still scat- 



tered over the wilds of New Mexico and Arizona, 
but their earliest records give no account of 
these wonderful ancient inhabitants. Neither 
did the intelligent and semi-civilized Montezu- 
mas, nor the vast tribes of Indians subject to 
them, have any knowledge, or dim tr.idition 
even, concerning these monuments of a long- 
forgotteu age and people. 

AMERICAK INDIA2J8. 
The earliest explorers of the American Con- 
HnpTit. found here a numerous race of inhabitants, 
which they called Indians, because Columbus 
and the early adventurers supposed they had 
discovered the long-sought eastern shores of 
India. Various theories have been advanced in 
regard to their origin, the truthfulness of which 
can not be determined, as none of them could 
possibly be demonstrated. The time of their 
occupancy of the country or the date of their 
origin cen not be known. 

TEAK. 

458. Chinese tradition alleges the discovery 
of Fu Sang (Mexico) by the Buddh- 
ists. 
861. The Normans discover Iceland. . . page 2 
889. The Normans discover Greenland . . . . 2 
985. Greenland peopled by the Danes under 
Eric Raud, or Red Head. 3 

1002. Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, "Winland 
dat Gode " (the good wine country), 
supposed to be the coast of New En- 
gland, discovered by Biron, an Ice- 
lander, and afterward visited by Lief, 
a Greenlander, according to Icelandic 
Sagas 2 

1001. Natives were first discovered in New- 
foundl.and 2 

1002-lOOG. Icelandic adventurers repeatedly 
visited the New World, exploring the 
country and bartering with the na- 
tivrs 3 

1000. A ricl] Iirlaiiil.r, named Thorfln Karl- 
.'^clni, <|irii( three winters on the coast 
of Mas.siichiisctts, where his wife bore 
him a son, whom he named Snorri, 
said to be the first child born of Eu- 
ropean parents on the continent of 
America page i. Introduction. 

1170. Madoc, a Wilsli jirince, supposed to have 
discovered .\nu-rica 3 

1380. Zeno, a Venetian, began voyages of dis- 
covery 3 

COLUMBUS. 

1447. Christopher Columbus supposed to h.ave 
been born at Genoa — exact date dis- 
puted 5, 76 

1461. Columbus went to sea at the age of four- 
teen — his first voyages were confined 
to the Mediterranean 5, 70 

1467. At the age of twenty Columbus visited 
Iceland and the Northern seas, ad- 



vancing several degreea within tho 
polar circle 6, 76 

Columbus next entered the service of a 
famous sea captain of his own name 

and fiimily 5, 76 

-1474. Columbus conceived the idea that 
by sailing west he could reach the 
East Indies by a shorter route^lso 
that another continent must lie-in that 
direction 5, 76 

Columbus began applying for aid, suc- 
cessively to the Senate of Genoa and 
the courts of Foriugal, Spain, and 
England. He was repeatedly refused, 
spending several years in negotia- 
tions 5, 77 

Apr. 17. Ferdinand 'and Isabella of 
Spain grant Columbus a commission 
to go on a voyage of discovery, consti- 
tuting him High Admiral in all seas 
and continents discovered by him, 
Isabella fitting out the expedition at 
her own expense 6, 7b, 79 

Aug. 3. Columbus sailed from the port 
of Palos with three small vessels and 
ninety men, to venture upon strange 
seas and to discover an unknown 
world 6, 79 

Aug. 13. Columbus arriving at the Ca- 
nary Islands, repaired his ships and 
procured supplies 6, 79 

Sept. 6. Columbus left the Canaries, 
and when out of sight of land his crew 
became dejected, «nd importuned him 
to return. He encourages them, and 
restores their confidence 6, 79 

Oct. 1. Not yet discovering land, his 
officers and crew threaten mutiny. 
With extraordinary efforts he quiets 
them 6, 80 

Oct. 12. Columbus discovers land. In 
the sudden revulsion of feeling his 
men prostrate themselves at his feet 
and implore his forgiveness 6, bO 

lie proceeds to land with great pomp 
and martial display. The shores are 

lined with naked inhabitants 80 

Columbus plants the cross and pro- 
coeds to take jiossession of the island 
in the name of the crowns of Castile 

and Leon G, 80 

Columbus named this island San 
Salvador. He continued his voyage in 
search of gold 6, 80 

Oct. 38. He discovers Cuba, and soon 
afterward numerous islands, all of 
which are inhabited, and finds gold in 

small quantities 6, 81 

He exchanged beads and trinkets 
for gold with the natives, who are ex- 
tremely docile and kind 6, 81 

Dec. 6. Columbus sailed eastward. Dec. 
24th he encountered a storm and lost 
one of his vessels ofi^ an island (Hayti, 
or Hispaniola). The natives aid him 



^^1^'^ 



CHRONOLOGY. 



737 



to land and treat him with groat kind- 
ness ('), 81 

He makes a stand here and erects 
a fort, planting the guns from the 
wreck. 

Jan. 4. From here he returns to Spain, 
and leaves a colony of thirty-eiglit 
men 0, 81 

Mar. 15. Columbus arrived in Spain 
after a tempestuous voyage. He was 
received with every mark of distinc- 
tion and gratitude at court, and with 
general rejoicing by the pcoi)Ie. . 6, 82 

May 25. The King and Queen of Spain 
cciufirm their former treaty, and make 
the ofBce of Viceroy of the West Indies 
hereditarv in his fiimily C, 82 

Sept. 25. Columbus returns on his 
second voyage to the West Indies with 
a fleet of seventeen ships and fifteen 
liundred persons, with everything req- 
uisite for conquest or seltlement. 0, 83 

Nov. 22. He arrives in Hayti and finds 
his colony and fort destroyed. He 
plants another colony on the oppo- 
site side of Hayti, naming it Isa- 
bella .^ C, 83 

Columbus while at "llayti suppressed a 
conspiracy, and sent the leaders to 
Spain in vessels sent for fresh supplies 
and reinforcements. He discovers 
large quantities of gold. He builds a 
fort, and calls the place St. Thomas. 83 

Apr. 24. He continues hi,s voyage 
among the West Jndia Islands, dis-^' 
covering Jamaica and Porto Rico. He 
becomes very ill and nearly loses his 
Ure....\ 6, 83 

Sept. 27. He returned to Hayti and 
there found his brother Bartholomew, 
whom lie had sent to the court of En- 
gland in 1481. He had returned to 
\^ Spain in time to take charge of three 

^^ips wliicli were ready to sail with 
provisions for Hayti 6, 84 

Mar. S4. Columbus was compelled to 
subdue the natives by force of arms. 
He levied a tax ujwn them, thereby 
procuring gold in larger quantities. 84 

June 11. Columbus learning of enemies 
in Spain, who were working his over- 
throw, repaired to court with the tro- 
phies of his adventure in gold and the 
products of the New World, convinc- 
ing bis patrons of his success and the 
importance of his enterprise 7, 85 

June 24. John and Sebastian Cabot, 
Italians, in the sei-vice of Henry VII., 
King of England, discover Labrador 
and Newfoundland 10 

May. Sebastian Cabot sailed upon a 
second voyage to the New World. He 
was but a little more than twenty-one 
years of age, and during this voyage 
he explored the coast from the extreme 
norili to Florida, and finding no break 
in the shore which promised the pas- 
sage to India, he returned to En- 
gland 11 

May 30. Columbus sailed from Spain on 
his third voyage to the New World 
with ten ships, after a delay of nearly 
two years 7, 86 

July 31. He discovers Trinidad and the 
river Oronoeo 7, 86 

Aug. Columbus discovers the continent 
of South America, and lands on the 
coast of Paria. He proceeds to His- 
paniola, and on his way discovers Ca- 
bagua and Margarita 7, 86 

Columbu3 superseded as Governor of the 
West Indies by Francis Bovadilla, who 



takes command of the colony in his 
absence 7, 88 

May IG. Americus Vespucius, a Flor- 
entine, sailed with Alonzo de Ojeda 
from Spain to explore the New World. 
He follows the course of Columbus, 
aided by his charts, and lands upon 
the coast of Paria. He proceeds as far 
as Cape de Verde, and returns to 
Spain 10, 87 

Columbus was sent to Spain in irons by 
Bovadilla 7, 88 

Pinzon, a companion of Columbus on 
his first voyage, visited the coast of 
Brazil and discovered the Amazon. 

Apr. 23. Cabral was shipwrecked on the 
coast of Brazil, and took possession 
for the crown of Portugal 87 

Nov. 5. Culunibiis arrives in Cadiz. 
Isabella and Ferdiniiu<l, becoming 
ashamed of their course toward him, 
invite liim to court and openly apol- 
ogize for the conduct of the new Gov- 
ernor 7, 88 

Dec. Ovando appointed successor to 
Bovadilla. 

May 4. The Government of Spain send 
Columbus upon his fourth and last voy- 
age, equipped with four vessels and 
one hundred and twenty men, to dis- 
cover a passage to the East Indies by 
the west 7, 89 

Aug. 14. Columbus discovers Honduras, 
soon afterward the Gulf of Dariln and 
the adjoining coast 7, 89 

Negro slavery first introdyccd into the 
West Indies by the Spaniards 96 

Columbus attempted to found a colony 
at Vcragua under command of his 
brother, but was prevented by the lios- 
tility of the natives. This was the 
first attempt to found a colony on the 
continent of America 89 

June 24. His ships being disabled, he 
run them aground upon Jamaica. 8, 90 

Basque, Norman, and Breton, fishermen, 
then, and for some time previous, hacl 
taken cod on the great bank of New- 
foundland, and on the shores of the 
island and neighboring continent, and 
also of the whole Gulf of St. Law- 
rence. It is not known at what pre- 
cise time they began to fieqnent these 
shores, nor when the great bank was 
discovered. 

Aug. 13. Columbus again arrives in St. 
Domingo 8, 90 

December. Columbus arrives at San 
Lucca, Sppin 8, 90 

John, of Honfleur, published a map of 
the coast of Newfoundland and vi- 
cinity. 

May 20. Columbus died at Valodolid, 
in his fifty-ninth year 8, 90 

The gold mines of Hayti yield immense 
wealth to Sjjain 91 

Solis and Pinzon discover Yucatan ... 91 

A Canadian Indian was seen in France, 
taken to that country by Thomas 
Aubert, a Dieppe pilot. 

De Soils and Pinzon cross the equator and 
coast along Brazil, erecting marks of 
their taking possession for the crown 
of Castile 87 

John de Esquebel, a Spaniard, made a 
settlement in Jamaica. 

Don Diego, son of Columbus, succeeds 
Ovando as Governor of Hispaniola (or 
Hayti) 93 

Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, conquered 
the Island of Porto Rico by order of 
Don Diego Columbus 93 



1509. Nicuessa began a settlement at Nombr* 
deDios, which proved unsuccessful. 92 
'' EncLso, one of Ojerla's cajjtains, founded 
tlie old city of Santa Maria on the 
banks of the Dariin. This was the first 
Ep scopal city on the continent, and 
existed but nine years, when the in- 
habitants and Episcopacy were trans- 
ferred to Panama 93 

" Balboa appointed Governor of the settle- 
ment of Santa INIaria Iiy the voluntary 
suffrages of his as<-ociates 92 

1511. Ferdinand permitted the importation of 

negro slaves in greater numbers. 

" Velasquez conquered Cuba by order of 

Don Diego Columbus, Governor of 

Hispaniola 93 

1513. April 2. Juan Poi;rc dr Lion discovers 
Florirlain si :in I, nl'il,,- ijl.lnl ''Fount- 
ain of Pci-|)-;i]:ii ^<lMlll ■■ 94 

1513. Sei:>t. 26. Balboa, al'ln-rxpl,, ring Centi-al 

America, crosses the Isthnins of Daricn, 
and discovers the great (Pacific) ocean 
on the west 94 

1514. Don Pedraiias, Governor of Darien, be- 

gan settlements in the provinces of 
Santa Maria and Cartagenia. 

1515. Alonzo de la Rua, a Spaniard, began the 

discovery of Peru 
" A Spaniard, named Diego de Albitez, 
discovered Chagres River in Panama. 

1516. Espinoza founded Nata, the first Spanish 

city on the Pacific coast. 
" Jan. Juan Diaz de Solis discovers the 
Rio de la Plata, and was destroyed, 
with several of his crew, by canni- 
bals 94 

1517. Charles V. legalized negro slavery in the 

West Indies by granting a patent for 
an annual import of 4,000 negroes from 

Africa 96 

" Frances Hernandez Cordova explores 
Yucatan 97 

1518. June 9. Grijalva discovers Mexico, and 

obtains considerable quantiiies of 
gold 98 

MONTEZUMA AND COETEZ. 

1519. March 4. Hernando Cortez, commissioned 

by Velasquez, arrived at the river To- 
basco, in Mexico, with 600 men, to ex- 
plore and conquer the territory. . . 119 

" April 2. Cortez receives messengers 
from the oflicers of Montezuma, the 
monarch of Mexico, inquiring the ob- 
ject of his visit 120 

" Cortez assures Montezuma of his friendly 
intentions, and sends him presents of 
trinkets and curiosities. Montezuma 
dispatches 100 natives. laden with rich 
presents of gold, pearls, and precious 
stones, commanding Cortez to instantly 
h-ave his dominions 120 

" Aug. 30. Cortez plants a colony at Vera 
Cruz. He renounces his allegiance to 
Cuba, and his followers elect him chief 
justice of the colony and commander- 
in-chief of the army 121 

" Nov. 8. Cortez, with all his array, enteis 
the City of Mexico by invitation of 
Montezuma, and is hosintably enter- 
tained 124 

" Dec. 4. Cortez betrays the confidence of 
Montezuma and makes him prisoner in 
his own capiial, burning his son and 
five principal oflicers upon a pile of 
weapons taken from the city ar. 
mory 125 

1520. Montezuma, through fear of Cirtez, sur- 

renders his supremacy to the King of 

Spain 126 

" Montezuma accompanies his submissioa 



738 



CHRONOLOCxY. 



witli a magnificent present to the King 
of Spain 1 20 

Marcli :n. Fernando Jfagalhaens (Ma- 
};i'il:ni) discovered Patagonia, and 
wintered in a harbor on its coast, re- 
siniiing his journey in Aug. (which is 
sjiring in that latilmlcl. 

Dv Alyon discovers CaKiliTn. A oon- 
sideralile body of tlie nalivcs were kid- 
napi)ed and carried into boneiage, 380 

Ajirii. Velasquez, Governor of Cuba, 
sends an armed fleet, under command 
of Narvaez, to arrest Cortez and liis 
]irincipal olTieers, and send them 
prisoners f(i Cuba 137 

Jbiy. ( 'cirtez leaves the capital with 15(1 
soldiers under Alvarado, and with his 
army marches to meet Narvacz. . . 138 

Cortez surprises Narvaez and his caiup 
by night, capturing him and liis entire 
force, with the loss of but two sol- 
diers 12S 

June 24. Cortez, with his additional 
force, returns to Mexico in time to save 
his general and meet the Mexicans, 
•who are determined to rescue their 
monarch and drive the enemy from the 
capital 130 

Cortez compels Montezuma to appear ou 
the battlements and exhort his people 
to cense from liostilities 129 

Montezuma is wounded, and, refusing aid 
or nourisliment, dies of grief and ex- 
liaustion 139 

July 8. The Mexicans make a general 
oi\slaught upon the Spaniards, and 
drive them from the city. With but a 
handful of his forces, Cortez escapes to 
the territory of the Tlasealans VM 

Nov. 7. Magellan entered the straits 
which have since been called by his 
name. One of his vessels was wrecked, 
another turned back when half way 
through, and returned to Spain, leaving 
him with three vessels. The straits 
are 300 niiirs \,nvs. and vary in wi.lth 
from ono nnd a li:iir to tlnity miles. 
The shores are prn ipilous, rising in 
some places to a liriL;lit of 3,000 feet, 
and the water apparently unfallionialile. 
The navigation is dangerous, owing to 
currents, reefs, and abriii>t turns. .134 

Nov. 37. He entered the Taeitic Ocean, 
and saile<i over thn'e months, most of 
the time becalmed. They suffered in- 
credilily for want of fresh water and 
provisions 131 

March 0. ]VrageIlau discovers the La- 
dronne Islands. March 10. He dis- 
covers the Philippines 134 

April 20. jragellan was killed in a quar- 
rel with the natives of the Island of 
Alactan 134 

IMngellan's expedition was continued 
under otlier commanders. Nov. 8. 
'I'll!' Isle of Borneo discovered, also the 
Ab.lhieeas 154 

April 38. Cortez, reinforced with ships 
from Ilispaniola, again attacks tlie 
capital of Mexico. July 3. Cortez 
destroys the greiiter part of the city, 
but tlie frantic .Mexicans again repulse 
liim 133 

July 37. Cortez renews the attack, and 
besieges the city 133 

Aug. 13. The Mexicans surrender, and 
tinatimozin. their monarch, successor 
to Montezuma, attempting flight, was 
captured 13J 

Sei)t. 7. Sebastian del Cano, commander 
of the Victon/, one of the ships of Ma- 
gellan's expedition, returns to Spain, 



having sailed round tlie world iu three 
years and twenty-eight days, being the 
first vessel which circumnavigated the 

globe 134 

1533. Oct. 15. Cortez was appointed Captain- 
General and Governor of New Sjxain 
(Mexico) l)y the Government of 
Spain 135 

" C'orlez proceeds to rebuild the capital 
and open the mines. He enslaves tho 
Indians and comijcls them to work in 
the mines 135 

" Bermuda Islands discovered by Juan 
Bermudez, a Sjjaniard, who was 
■wrecked upon them on his way to 

" Coast of Peru explored by Pascu.al de 
Andagoya. 
1528. Padro Alvarado, sent by Cortez to con- 
quer Centr.al .'\meriea, and within two 

vrnrs had subdued the whole country. 

1524. Vrr,i//nii explores the coast of North 

.\iiirri.i, .iillingit New France... 11 

•' Guatiino/in was barbarously executed by 

Cortez without tiial 135 

" By command of Cortez, Sandoval, an 
officer sicond in rank, burned at the 
stake sixty Caziques and four hundred 
nobles, atone time 135 



PIZAEKO AND CONQUEST OF PEEUT. 

Francisco Pizarro .sailed from Panama to 
attempt the conquest of Peru 130 

. Diego de Almagro sailed from Pivnama 
to join PizaiTO in the conquest rf 

Peru 130 

Ponce de Leon, commissioned by Charles 
v., proceeds to Mexico to inquire into 
Corlez's conduct, and if guilty of 
treason, to .arrest and bring him to 

Spain 135 

Ponce de Leon dies without executing 
the commission 130 

. Sebastian Cabot sails alon? the coast of 
Brazil, enters the Bio de la Plata, and 
follows it up 120 leagues, finding nu- 
merous inhabitants 11 

Pizarro explores Peru; the inhabitants 
were decently clad and cultivated the 
soil ; gold and silver were abundant, 
and were used by the natives as ma- 
terials for ves.sels of commonest use. 

. lie returned to Panama after suflering 
incredible h.ardships, bringing two 
young natives, some Uarari^s, and various 
articles of gold and silverware, as 
trophies of his enterprise 137 

. Pizarro repairs to Spain, and receives a 
commission from Charles V. to explore 
and conquer the territory of Peru, and 
was invested with military and civil 
authority over 200 leagues along the 
coast 137 

. He meets Cortez in Spain, who gives him 
friendly counsel and aid. He returns 
to Panama accompanied by three of his 
brothers 137 

. Fell. Pizarro, with three small vessels 
and 180 soldiers, sails upon an expe- 
dition to conquer Peru. He lands in 
the bay of St. .Matthew, marches south- 
ward, attacking and driving the natives 

before him 137 

When Pizarro invaded Peru, Huascar 
and Atahualpa, the sons of Huana 
Capac, the former Emperor, were at 
war with each other for the supremacy, 
and he was left undisturbed in his 

march 138 

April 14. He conquers the province of 



Coaque, and seizes gold and valuable 
booty. He sends a vessel to Panama 
with some of his spoils to allure ad- 
venturers to his .aid 138 

1531. Colonies planted in Brazil by Portujral. 
1533. Pizarro is joined by adventurers from 

Nicaragua 138 

" May 10. Pizarro founds the first colony 
in Peru on the river Piura, naming it 
St. Michael 138 

Pizarro receive. 1 ,-v, rtures from both 
Atahualpa and llni-cir: 1 nt, iirelorring 
loremain neutral till lie -ImuM learn the 
strength of eacli, he nnrclie.l to Caxa- 
malca, the seat of Ataliual|>a, under 
professions of friemlsbip 139 

Atahualpa receives I'i/.urio with great 
conJescension and niecli displ.ay, offer- 
ing him many valuable presents and 
the hospitalities of the city 139 

Pizarro and his soldiers, inflamed by 
the sight of so much gold, resolved to 
betray and imprison Atahualpa and liis 
attendants in his own capital, and take 
violent possession of the country. . 139 
" Nov. 16. A^t the approach of the Incsi, 
the Spanis,ii priest. Father Vincent V.al- 
verde, with a crucifix in his hand, de- 
manded submission to the Catholic 
religion and the King of Spain. . . 139 

Upon the refusal of Atahualpa to ac- 
cept the Spanish religion upon suet 
authority, PizaiTO and his soldiers 
rush upon him and his unsuspecting 
attendants, taking him prisoner and 
destroying thousands of his subjects 
"without the loss of a single Spaniard 
139 

Pi z.arro proceeds to plunder the city, 
the booty exceeding his greatest ex- 
pectation. The Spaniards pass the 
night in the wildest revels 139 

The captive monarch, perceiving 
their thirst for gold, offered Pizarro an 
incredible ransom for his liberty. . 139 

He proposed to fill the room in which 
he was imprisoned (which was 22 feet 
long and 10 feet wide) with golden 
vessels as high as he could reach. 

Pizarro agrees to the Inca's terms, 
and messengers are sent to every part 
of Atahualpa's realm, .and the golden 
treasures are poured in for the ransom 

of their king 139 

" Dec. Almagro arrived at St. Michael's 
with reinforcements from Panama. 139 
1533. Huascar, brother of the captive king, him- 
self a captive of Atahualpa, offered the 
Spaniards a still greater sum if they 
would aid him in the subjugation of 
liis brother's realm 139 

Atahualpa, learning of this, secretly 
sent messengers and had his brother 
executed 139 

Pizarro's soldiers, impatient of delay, 
clamor for their share of tho Inca's 
ransom. Before the vast sum could be 
collected, Pizarro melted down the 
treasure and divided it among them 
according to their rank 140 

So vast was the qiuulity that, after 
reserving one-fifth for the crown, there 
remained over $1,50 i,000 to be divi- 
ded between Pizarro and his soldiers. 

Pizarro refused to release Atahualpa. 
He concocts a series of charges against 
him, and proceeds to try him betbre a 
court composed of Spanish officers. 140 

They condemn him to the stake, 
but Father Valverde oft'ers to mitigate 
Ids punishment if he will embrace the 
Catholic religion 140 



CHEONOLOGY. 



739 



The Inca submits to baptism, and is 
kindly condemned to be strangled. 140 
Upon the death of the Inca, Pizarro 
formally bestows the government up- 
on one of his sous, thinking to gradu- 
ally supplant the youth, and assume 

the rulership himself 140 

Pizarro's success inflames the mind of the 
Spaniards in Panama and Nicaragua, 
and they rush in great numbers to the 

fieUl of conquest 140 

Pizarro, being largely reinforced 

thereby, marches to the conquest of 

Cuzco, the dominion of Huascar. . 140 

AVhile on this expedition the young 

Ir.ca installed by Pizarro dies. . . . 14i 

The Peruvians oppose him with a 

strong force, but he puts them to flight 

■^•ith great slaughter to their ranks, and 

takes possession of their capital. . 141 

The Spaniards plunder the citv, and 

the spoils exceed the amount paid for 

Atahualpa's ransom, and the rich booty 

seized at the capture of Caxamalca. 141 

Benalcaz:ir, one of Pizarro's officers, 

whom he left over the colony of St. 

Michael, marches to Quito, and, with 

little opposition, takes the city. . . 141 

The inhabitants at his approach seize 

and hide the treasure 141 

Pedro de Alvarado, an officer under 
Cortez, arrives about tliis time to cap- 
ture Quito. Finding it in posses-ion 
of Pizario's officers, he agrees to leave 
the country if Benalcazar will pay the 

cost of the expedition 141 

Ferdinand, brother of Pizarro, arrives in 
Spain with the treasure sent by Pizarro 
as the king's tribute. He was received 
with distinction. King Charles ex- 
tended the dominion of Pizarro's con- 
quest, and confers greater powers upon 

him 141 

Almagro received the title of gov- 
ernor over 200 leagues of territor,' 
south of Pizarro's dominion, and Fer- 
dinand was also rewarded with a title 

of distinction 141 

Apr. 20. James Cartier sailed from St. 
Malo, France, with two ships of sixty 
tons and one hundred and twenty-two 

men, on a voyage of discovery 11 

May 10. He came in sight of New Found- 
land. Soon after visited several har- 
bors on the opposite coast of Labrador. 
He circumnavigated the island of New 
Foundland, and after crossing the gulf 
to the continent, visited a harbor which 

he railed Baye de Chaleur 11 

July. He took possession of the conti- 
nent for the King of France. Soon 
afterward he sailed into the river St. 

Lawrence 

Sept. 5. He returned to France... 
Havana destroyed by the French. 
, Jan. 8. Pizarro founds tlie city of Lima, 
and establishes his palace and the capi 
tal of his empire there. 

Pizarro invests Blanco Capac, Ijrothei 
of Atahu.alpa, with tlie government of 
Cuzco, and appoints his two brothers 

in charge of the troops 141 

Almagro, with 570 men, attempts the 

conquest of Chili 141 

May 19. Cartier sailed on his second 
voyage with three ships, one of 13i), 
one of 60, one of 40 tons. He pursued 
the same course as the ineceding sum- 
mer, and sailed up the St. Lawrence. 11 
Sept. 2J5. They pissed the rapids in the 
iipjier pirt of the Lake Angoleme, now 
called St. Peter's 13 



1535. Oct. 2. They arrived at the Indian town 

of Hochelaga. To the hill under which 
the town was built he gave the name 

of Montreal 13 

" Mendoza, a Spaniard, built the city of 
Buenos Ayres. 
1.535-1550. Money coined in Mexico, and a 
jirinting-press introduced: auniver.>-ity 
and several colleges founded. 

1536. The Peruvians revolt. Manco Capac, the 

Inca, escapes, and mithers the Peruvi- 
ans in great numbers. They ,>;urprisi' 
every Spanish settlement, and destroy 
them indiscriminately, and attack Cuz- 
co with a force of 200,000 men. . . 14-2 
Tlioy attack Lima, and surround it 
with another large force at the same 
time. All communication being cut 
off between them, the whole Spanisli 
army are shut in at these two points, 
and are besieged for nine months. 143 
" A fort and trading post was establishe<l 
on tlic site of the present town of ^isun- 
cion, S. A., wliich gave it 73 years tlic 
precedence of James'own, the first 
European settlement in the United 
States. This colony greatly prospered 
under the hands of Martinez, de Irala, 
a man of great energy and courage, 
■who dealt .I'ustly with the Indians, en- 
couraging hisjnen to take native wom- 
en for wives, and to respect both the 
marital and parental relations. 

1537. Almagro returns from Chili, his expedi- 

tion proving a failure. He marches 
toward Cuzco. The Inca proffers him 
terms of peace, if he will .join his forces. 
Almagro rejects his proposals, and the 
Peruvians attack him. He repulses 
them with great slaughter, and ap- 
proaches the city unmolested. .. . 142 
The Pizarros, suspicious of his mo- 
tives, receive him as an enemy. Al- 
magro surprises the sentinels, and en- 
ters the city by night, captures them 
both, and compels them to surren- 
der 143 

" Cortez discovered the peninsula of Cali- 
fornia, and explored the greater part 
of the gulf. 

" Pizarro sends a large force under Alonzo 
de Alvarado to relieve his brothers at 
Cuzc). Almagro endeavored to bribe 
him, but failing in this, he surprised 
hira by night, taking him and his prin- 
cipal officers prisoners 142 

" Alvarado and Gonzalo Pizarro escape 
with sixty soldiers of the guard. . 142 
Pizarro induces Almagro to release 
his brother Ferdinand aiul send him to 
Spain, where tiieir respective clai 
should be settled by the crown, the two 
factious agreeing meanwhile to keep 

the peace 143 

Upon the release of his brother. Pi 
arro ignores his treaty, and declares 
war upon Almagro 143 

" April 26. With a force of 700 men, Gon 
zalo and Ferdinand Pizarro attack 
Almagro upon the open plain before 

Cu/,r.r. 143 

Aim :i: i^ '1. IVated, and, attempting 
lli^hi. I- cipiiircd, and after several 
niotiili-,' iiiiprisonment, is tried and 
convicted of treason, and strangled in 

prison 143 

Pizarro continues his discoveries and con- 
quests in the remaining provinces of 

Peru 143 

9. Almagro's officers endeavor to influence 

thet'ourt of Spain against Pizarro. 143 

Ferdinand Pizarro also appeared before 



the Court, presenting the claims of his 

brother and himself 143 

Christoval Vaca de Castro was commis- 
sioned by S])aiu to visit Peru and 
establish order, but Ferdinand Pizarro 
was dutained and kept in prison. . 143 

upon the wcslirn coast of Florida 

and a herd of swine, to explore the 

country ami search for gold 13 

Pizarro, having assumed the oflice of Dic- 
tator ution the death of Almagro, di- 
vieled the territory among his compan- 
ions. His partiality arouses .jeal.iusy 
and a thirst for revenge among the ad- 
venturers. 
Pedro de V'aklivia, upon the death of Al- 
raiigro, attempts the invasion of Chili, 
and founds the city of St. Jago. . . 143 
Pizarro removes Benalcazar, the con- 
(|Ueror of Quito, from his comman<l 
over the province, and appoints his 

brother Gonzalo in his place 141 

Gonzalo Pizairo, with a force of 340 
soldiers, MO horses, and 4,0U0 Indians, 
cross the Andes to explore the great 
unknown world beyond. Enduring 
incredible hardships from cold and 
fatigue, they reach the river Napo, a 

branch of the Amazon 144 

Aug. 23. Cartier arrived at the port of 
St. Croix, upon his third voyage, with 

five ships 14 

He anchors three of his ships iu the 
mouth of a small river on the St. Law- 
rence, where he builds a %rt. He 
sends the other two vessels back to 

France t'lr sn))plies 14 

In the spring Cartier visits New Found- 
land en. route, for France, where he 
finds three ships with 200 persons of 
both sexes, on their way to Canada to 
found a colony under command of Lord 

Koberval 14 

July. The colony arrives at St. Croix, 
and proceed to establ sli thcmsdvis at 
the fort left by Cartiir. They jjassod 
a tedious winter, sull'iring from sick- 
ness and privation, and the following 
summer they abandon the enterprise 

and return to France 14 

De Soto discovers the Mississi])pi River, 
and explores the country a distance of 

80 leagues north of .Mobile 14 

Fell. Gonzalo Pizarro builds a boat, and 
places it under Orellana. with 50 sol- 
diers, to sail to the mouth of the Napo, 
there to await tin' ai rival of Gonzalo 

and the rest of Ips conuiKind 144 

Upon reachinL,' the Mar.innon (or Ama- 
zon) he finds Hint (inlliina had deseit- 
ed him witli his vi s-rl ; he followed 
the Am.az'm for lllly I. a n^ -, and, be- 
coming dishearten'' I alal Ji lituteof 
provisions, they rrlr ic . iln n Mc ps and 
return to Peru, n <li-tan.r of 1,^00 

miles 144 

Gonzalo Pizarro arrived in Quito, afier an 
absence of nearly two years, with a 
h:indful of his men, famished, naked, 

and utterly forlorn 144 

Francisco Pizarro was assassinated in 
his ])al;ice in Lima, by a band of con- 
spirators, the friends and adherents of 
the son of .Mniagro, vliom they (Ic- 
eland his lanf'nl snciassor and hi r to 

his titles and .luthori y 144 

Almagro, junior, is openly receivid 

by the numerous enemies of Pizirro, 

and is jo:m.d by 800 vUerans of Peru 

144 



CHRONOLOGY. 



Yacji de Castro arrives in Quito, and de 
Clares himself Governor of Peru. The 
loyalists rally around hitn, nnd he pro- 
ceeds to march toward the cnpital. lie 
is reinforced on his way, and appoints 
Francisco de Carvajal commander-in- 
chief. 145 

From this period to 1821, Peru was gov- 
erned by a viceroyalty. 

Almngro, hearing of Castro's arrival and 
tlic numbers who had jo'ncd him, im- 
mediately set ontforCuzco. lie meets 
the enemy at Cliiii)az 145 

Sept. IG. They in; ,- !i ii. ' , - iio-agc in 
battle. After a ,1 ; . i ^ i ; rule, vic- 
tory is declared i i i • ii I'astri. 
Of'l,400 combataiil,., .jUi) l.i\ ih ad upon 
the lield, and a greater number were 
wounded 14.'5 

Almagro, with 40 of his followers, were 
executed for treason, and the remain- 
der banished 145 

King Charles resolves to change the form 
of government in the American prov- 
inces, abolishing slavery of the natives 
and military despotism 145 

lie framed a new code of laws which 
were very repulsive to the rulers of 
I'cru, aud appointed Blasco Nugncz 
Vela Governor and Viceroy over all 
Peru, with a court of royal audience in 
Lima. 

Alvarado, successor to De Soto, descend- 
ed the Mississippi from the mouth of 
Red River, where De Soto died, to the 

Mai* 4. The new Viceroy arrives and 
proceeds to prosecute the new adminis- 
tration with great rigor. lie declares 
bberty to all slaves, and deprives all 
officers of their lands and servants. 146 
Nugnez Vela continues to enforce 
the !ai\s, and to level all distinctions, 
and without regard to rank punishes 
all offenders against the Government 

■without mercy 146 

Vasca de Castro was loaded with 
chains and thrown into the common 

jail 146 

The peoijlc clamor for redress, and 
appeal to (ionzalo Pizano to lead them 
in throwing off the yoke of this new 
tyrant, pledging their property and 

their lives to :iid him 140 

Pizarro, after long hesitation, at 
length raised the standard of revolt. 
The inhabitants of Cuzco received him 
with open arms. They elected him 
Procurator-general of the Spanish na- 
tion in Peru, nnd ctnpowered him to 
lay their n iiion-ti a: i ■ In fore the royal 
Court of .\udi' lice in Lima. 

Upon thi-^ prctexl.and the fear of the In- 
dians, he marches with an army toward 
Lima, seizing all the arms and Govern- 
ment artillery and public treasure on 
the way 147 

Pizarro is constantly reinforced by the 
outraged S|ianiards on his route. Ar- 
riving in Lima, he finds the judges in 
open revolt against the Viceroy. . . 147 

Sept. 18. They seize the Viceroy and 
pla<:c him in eoufiuemeut upon a desert 
island, to be sent to Spain the first op- 
portunity 147 

Pizarro, with 1,200 men, approache.s 
withm a mile of Lima, and demmds 
the appointment of Governor and Cap- 
tain-! icneral of all the provinces of 
Peru 147 

The .iudges hesitate, and he takes pos- 
session of the city liy night, and 



seizes the officers of court obnoxious to 
his designs, and hangs them without 
trial. 

The following day the Court of Au- 
dience granted Pizarro his commission, 
and he immediately assumed the dig- 
nity of his office with extraordinary 

pomp 147 

Oct. 28. The judges, having placed the 
captive Viceroy in irons on board a 
ship un(li:ii.i-i]iiiiiiaiid of .Ju.an Alvarez, 
to be sent \<> Spain Alvarez, as soon as 
they were at s^ a, rdiased hi< prisoner, 
and declareil him the rightful sovereign 
of Peru .^ 147 

Nugnez A''ela ordered the pilot to steer 
toward Tumbez. Upon landing, he 
raised the royal standard, and his ad- 
herents quickly rallied around him. 147 

Diego Centeno, a bold officer under 
Pizarro's Li( ulcnaiit-Governor in Cha- 
fed him (till- ( i( iitenant), and declared 

for Nu-UL'Z Vcia 147 

The Silver mines of Potosi were dis- 
covered. 
Pizarro, with a large force under the brave 
Carvajal, marche? .ngainst Nugnez Vela, 
who retreats toward Quito 147 

Pizarro follows him to Quito, from 
whence Nugnez fled to Popayan.. . 147 

Pizarro dispatches Carvajal to sup- 
press the rebellion under Centeno in 
the southern provinces, while he re- 
mained to protect Quito 147 

Nugnez Vela being reinforced in Popayan 
byBenalcazar with400 men, he march- 
ed back to Quito to attack Pizarro. 147 
Jan. 18. Pizarro hastened to meet him, 
and after a fierce encounter Nugnez 
Vela fell pierced with many wounds. 
Ilis troops fled, bearing their wounded 
leader. 

Pizarro captured Nngne-?, Vela and 
cut off his head, placing it upon the 
public gibbet in Quito, while he en- 
tered the city in triumph 147 

Carvajal soon suppressed the rebel- 
lion under Ceuteno, dispersing his 
troops and compelling him to flee to j 
the mountains for refuge, where he 
remained hid in a cave for several 
months 147 

Pizarro had unlimited control of all 
Peru, as well as the entire fleet in the 
South Sea, which he placed under com- 
mand of Pedio de Hinojosa. 

Pizarro also took possessicm of the 
Isthmus of Panama, and planted a 
garrison O])posite Panama, thereby 
commanding the only direct passage 

from Spain to Peru 147 

Spain sends a new Governor or President 
in the person of Pedro de la Gasca, a 
priest of great learning and ability, to 

supersede Pizarro in Peru 148 

July 27. The new President arrives in 
Nombre de Dios, invested with full 
civil and military authority. He finds 
an officer of Pizarro in charge of the 
port, but being a priest, he is allowed 
to land .and proceed to Panama. . . 148 

The new President is hospitably re- 
ceived at Panama, and by his courteous 
address and priestly office, he soon 
wins the officers and people over to his 
cause 148 

Pizarro iircpar^- : • i -' ' the new 
President wil'i i: :■• 'i' .ihanew 
deputation tn '-p !:, i i,, n : mi; a con- 
firmation of hi- ,>,!, i\ ai:l!,ority as 
Govciuor of I'eiu fur life 148 



He also dispatches commissioners to 
Panama ordering La Gasca to depart 
immediately for Spain 148 

Hinojosa, the officer in command at 
Panamii, ofl'ers Gasca, bv authority of 
Pizarro, a laro-e sum of money, if he 
will viilniii:.ril- v.ll.v ,1,,] 1,,|V,- Piz- 
arroin ]- i ' ■ . . \ '■■ rn. 148 

Gas.-a i,.,,-.:^ ,!. [■ .!,,. stand- 
ard r.f Spain, and ai; tMeollicers and 
s.ildiers in Panama Join him. The 
sviiipatliiis (if tlie p(<)])lc are also with 

him 148 

Pizarro prepares for war. The Court of 
Audience in Lima proceed to try Gasca 
for treason, and he is condemned to 
death 148 

Pizarro, at the head of 1,000 men, 
the best equi])ped army ever marshaled 
in Pern, declares war against the new 
invader 148 

Gasca, meanwhile, had collertcd a 
large force from Nicaragua ami Car- 
thagena, and «ith the troojis and fleet 
at Panama, he was well prepared to 

meet Pizarro 148 

Apr. Gasca ,=ends a squadron with a 
body of soldiers in advance to Peru, 
and messengers are sent to all the col- 
onies declaring his peaceful intentions 
toward the iieojAe 148 

All who were dissatisfied with Piz- 
arro's administration rallied around 
Gasca 148 

Centeno leaves his! r:\vr in the mnnu- 
tains, and with tit'ly a'tln rnits attarks 
Cuzco at night, nml captnrrs tlic capi- 
ital with 500 soldiers, wl.n i^nietly sub- 
mit to him .". 148 

Pizarro, feeling the danger from 
Centeno most imminent, marches to 
Cuzco, and prepares to attack tlio 
cnemv. Hi-; snldirr- urn- all mounted, 
and as la- ai>p .-a.liel, al lait -1(111 .Ir- 
serted him and joiiird I'mt^aio. . , 148 
Oct. 20. But m.thing daunted, he boldly 
advance<l, ai:d attacked tlie enemy with 
double his numbers, ami alter a bloody 
onslaught I'izarro obtained complete 

victory 148 

The booty was immense, and the punish- 
ment of the vanquished cruel, Piz- 
arro's army increased daily iu numbers, 
but in his absence the citizens of Lima 
revolt, and erect the royal standard 

under Aldana 148 

Gasca landed at Tumbez with 500 men. 
At his approach all the settlements 
south declare for the King, and rally- 
around him 148 

Gasca marches toward the interior. 
His kindness and just treatment rapid- 
ly win all parties to his cause. .... 148 
Pizarro stubbornly refuses all eflbrts 
toward reconciliation, determined to 
settle the contest by the sword 
alone 149 

Gasca marches with 1,600 men to 
meet Pizarro, having tried every expe- 
dient to reconcile him to terms of 

peace 149 

Pizarro and his troops, blazing with the 
silk and golden trophies of his victory, 
came out with great military pomp to 

meet the enemy 149 

Just ns they were ready to engage in ac- 
tion, Cepeda, one of Pizarro's first 
officers in rank, rode over and sur- 
rendered to the enemy. The examp'.e 
was contagious, aud the greater part 
of his army surrendered and the re- 
main:!cr dispersed 149 



CHRONOLOGY. 



741 



1548. In sudden consternation Pizarro also sur- 

rendered to one of Gasca's officers, 
and, together with his most noted 

ofiScers, was publicly executed 149 

" Chavez founds the first city of Santa 
Cruz (le la Sierra, which was afterward 
moved northward. 

1549. Upon the death of Pizarro peace was re- 

stored to Peru, and the new President 
endeavored to satisfy all parties, receiv- 
ing no compensation for his labors. 149 
He continued the exploration and 
conquest of new territories, suitably re- 
warding the bold adventurers, thereby 
queUing the mutinous spirit which had 

so Iciug reigned unchecked 149 

" Ccuteno was commissioned to discover 
and explore the vast regions bordering 
on the Rio de la Plata 149 

1550. Fel). 1. Gasca returned to Spain, leaving 

the administration of government in 
the hands of the Court of Audience, 
bearing with him the royal revenue of 
four years, amounting to 1,300,000 
pesos 1 50 

1553. The entire Indian population in Cuba 

became extinct through the cruelty of 
the Spaniards. 

1554. Francis de Ybarra, a Spaniard, discovered 

the mines of Santa Barbary, and San 
Juan. 
" Havana again destroyed by the French, 
but was speedily rebuilt. 

1555. Nov. 10. A colony of Huguenots founded 

on an i-<land in the bay of Rio Janeiro, 
in Brazil, by Villegagnon, a Knight of 
JIalta. 

15G3. Admiral Cobgni attempted to found a 
colony of French Protestants, or Hu- 
guenots, on the coast of Florida — the 
territory now embraced in the Caro- 
linas 280 

1563. Negro slavery first introduced into the 
West Indies by the English. Sir John 
Hawkins, who decoyed 300 unsuspect- 
ing negroes from the coast of Guinea 
on board his vessel, carried them cap- 
tive to Hi'paniola, and sold them to 
the Spaniards with great profit to him- 
self. 213 

1565. The Hugueno s' colony expelled from 
Brazil. 
" Sept. St. Augustine founded by the 
Spaniards and the Huguenots mas- 
sacred. 

1567. The Huguenots avenged through the 
massacre of two Spanish garrisons in 
Florida under De Gourges. 
" Rio de Janeiro built by the Portuguese. 

1572. Sir Francis Ih-akc, commissioned by 
Queen Elizabeth, with three small ves- 
sels, descended upon the coast of New 
Granada, and plundered the settle- 
ments, burnt the shipping, and held 
the whole region at his mercy. He 
returned to England with enough 
wealth to make him one of the richest 
private persons in the kingdom, and 
Queen Elizabeth received him with dis- 
tinguished favor. 

feobishee's expeditions. 

1S76. June. Martin Frobisher sailed from En- 
gland with three small ships, one 30, 
one 20, and the smallest of only 10 tons 
burden, to find a shorter route to Asia. 
Encountering a fearful storm, one of 
Lis vessels was lost and the other re- 
turned to England, but nofhing daunt- 
ed, he kejjt on his course untd he 
reached Labrador. Skirting the coast 



he entered the strait which bears his 
name and took possession in the name 
of Queen Elizabeth. He brought away 
some soil and stones, among which was 
found a stone containing gold. This 
created great excitement, and at once 
three shii}s were fitted out, and in M.ay, 
1577, Frobisher sailed again for La- 
brador. He filled his ships with the 

ore and returned 213 

Enough gold was smelted out of the ore 
to pay the expenses of the voyage. 

AN IMMENSE ACHIEVEMENT. 

80. Drake, with six ships and IGl men, 
made another expedition to South 
America. In sailing thrnugh the 
Straits of Magellan, three of the ves- 
sels left him and returned to England, 
while two others he had emptied and 
turned adrift, leaving him but one ves- 
sel to undertake the hazardous enter- 
prise. He had but 53 men and three 
casks of water when he entered the 
Pacific, but he safely reached Peru, and 
again plundered the Spanish settle- 
ments, and captured a Spanisli ship 
laden with gold and silver. He then 
sailed along the coast to California, 
which he took formal possession of in 
the name of the Queen of England. 
Thinking to find a northern passage 
back into the Atlantic, he sailed north 
till he reached the region of eternal 
cold, but found no gap in the ice- 
bound coast. Fearing to meet the 
Spanish cruisers, he resolved to sail 
westward, and reach England by cir- 
cumnavigating the globe. He accom- 
plished his purpose, and reached En- 
gland in 1580, after an absence of nearly 
three years. This was regarded as 
.an immense achievement, and he was 
knighted by the Queen, who came on 
board his ship, and partook of a ban- 
quet. When the Spanish king demand- 
ed his surrender, as a buccaneer, she 
refused to give him up. 

Frobisher sailed upon a third voyage 
to Labrador, with a fleet of 15 ships, a 
great part of the expense being borne 
by the Queen. It proved a terrible and 
disastrous voyage, and the fleet drifted 
into the straits, since named Hudson's. 
With difficulty he reached the islands 
containing the gold, and loading his 
vessels returned to England, and found 
the ore to be of little value. 

Sir Humphrey Gilbert obtains a patent 
from Queen Elizabeth to discover and 
appropriate all lands unoccupied by 
Christian powers in North America, in 
the name of the crown of England. 213 
Gilbert approached the continent too 
far to the north, and attempting to 
land near Cape Breton, lost his largest 
vessel 214 

Don Juan de Gasca appointed Governor 
of Buenos Ayres, and much progress 
was made in the civilization of the 
Indians. 

Gilbert attempts the settlement of New- 
foundland, taking possession in the 
name of the Queen, and established the 
cod-fisheiies, from -which England has 
derived more profit than she would if 
the island had been filled with gold- 
mines. 

Havana strongly fortified. 

The territory" from Canada to Florida 
granted by" Elizabeth, tlie virgin queen 



(whence its name, Virginia), to Sir 
Waller li.aleigh 213 

Sir Waller K:i!ei-ii fitted out t.vo vtss.ls 
for .American exploration, counnnnded 
by .\ma ios and Barlow. Tliev ancliored 
in Koauoko l!ay. The natives xv ere 
very hospitable, anil tlies.- woi thy En- 
glishmen diil not betrav til. irtru^t . 214 

Richai-d Grenville, wilh >eve,i vessels, 
authorized and equii)ped by hir Walter 
Raleigh, landed 108 men at Roanoke, 
und(!r charge of Capt. Lane, to found 
a colony 314 

The colony was abandoned, and the ad- 
venturers returned to England on board 
Sir Francis Drake's vessel 214 

Dai is" t^traits discovered by John Davis, 
an Iliiglishnian. 

Sir liiehard Grenville arrived at Roanoke, 
and brought fifty more men with pro- 
visions. Ho left them to hold the 
position, and departed for England. 214 

Tobacco first introduced into England by 
Mr. l.ane 1(5 

Virginia Dare, the first cbil.l born of 
English jjarentage in North America. 

Raleigh sent three ships under Caj)t. 
White, to join the small colony left by 
Grenville. Arriving at the post, thev 
find noihing but the charred ruins of 
their houses and the bones of their 
murdered countrymen 214 

Capt. White attempted to fimnd another 
colony. He rebuilt their houses, and 
left a larger number of men and more 
provisions. They attempt friendly 
relations with the Indians. White re- 
turns to England to bring them aid and 
supplies 215 

White, upon his return to the colony, in 
an engagement with the Spaniards, had 
his vessel disabled, and returned to 
England 215 

White returns and finds the colony again 
destroyed, and, as no tidings could be 
heard from them, he abandoned the 
enterprise 215 

Attempts made to colonize Nova Scotia, 
and some authors declare that it was 
■ attempted as early as 1515, and at 
various periods since. 

Bartholomew Gosnold, an Englishman, 
in a small vessel and with but thirty 
men, sailed directly west, and reached 
the shores of America upon Massachu- 
setts Hay, naming the point where they 
caML;!it iii.any <()ilfish Cape Cod. He 
(li-eivrrc.| >iir:lia's Vineyard. 17,215 

Two \e->r!-, \\iv<- fitted out, and sailed 
upon Go..iiold's track. They re'.urn 
CO. .firming his discoveries 215 

June. JIartin Pring visits the coast of 
New England 40 

EXPEDITIONS OF CHAMPLAIN. 
Cliamplain, with two small vessels, one of 
twelve tons and the other fifteen, sailed 
from France and entered the St. Law- 
rence River. He jiassed the promon- 
tory, ujjon wliieli (luelii c now stauds, 
to fill' island upiii ivliieh has been 

With a motley cre.v, ( liani|;Iain again 
visited Canada and attempted a settle- 
ment on an island in Passamaquodily 
Bay. The ships returned to France, 
leading seventy-nine men, who experi- 
enced the horrors of a Canaili an winter, 
thirty-nine of them dying of scurvy 
before spring. Their wiuo froze solid 
in the barrels, and was served out to 



CHRONOLOGY. 



them by the pound. They were re- 
lieved in the spring by a vessel from 
France, and Chauil)lain explored the 
coast of New EnL;1an<l as far as Cape 
Cod. Rrtiiriiin- Ic tlie settlement, 
they passed nimthcr winter, which was 
much uiiMir, anil in the spring of 1005 
he returned to France ". 34 

Guiana settled by the French. 
Settlement establislied at Port Royal, 
N. S., by the Huguenots under De 
Montz 24 

New Brunswick first colonized. 

April 20. North America, between the 
34tli and .'iMth degrees of latitude, 
grantid by cliarter of King James I. of 
England, to tlie Plvmouth Company, 
ami from the 41st to the 45tU to tlie 
London Comi^any. 

Sir John Popham attempts to found a 
colony on the Kennebec Kivcr at Saga- 
dahock, Maine. 

Jlay 13. Colony at Jamestown, Va., 
planted under Christopher New- 
port 21(5 

Jamestown colony reinforced by 130 men 
and a large stock of provisions and 
implements of husbandry 217 

Champlain retvirns to America and founds 
the City of Quebec 'M 

Scfit. 10. Capt. Smith chosen President 
of the Council of the colony at James- 
town 218 

Pocahontas saved the life of Capt. 
Smith 217 

Champlain discovered the lake which 
bears his name, and defeated the 
Iroquois in a battle. For 26 years, 
t'hamplain presided over his colony, 
and died at Quebec, Dee., H);3.3. 

DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON. 

Sept. 21. Henry Hudson, an English- 
man, in the employment of the Dutch, 
discovered the river which hears his 
name, and sailed U|) the stream as far 
as the head of navigation, and explored 
it in aboat to a jwiut as high, probably, 
as Troy 300 

May 23. England grants a new charter 
to the Virginia colonies, and sends 
over a set of outlaws and imposes them 
upon the colonies 218 

Smith nearly loses his life through an 
(explosion of powder. He returns to 
England, leaving 500 persons in the 
colony, which were reduced in six 
montiis, by famine and disease, to (iO 

pirdon< 21!) 

Lord Delaware arrived with three 
ships and a number of settlers, with a 
1 irge store of provisions. He is made 
Ca[)taiu-(!eneral of the colony. . . . 219 

Lord De aware visits Delaware Bay, 
giving it its name. He returns to En- 
gland on account of sickness, and Sir 
'i'homas Dale takes his place 219 

Lord Bacon's company attempt to settle 
Newfoundland. 

iiudson's last voyage. 

Hudson sailed on his last voyage, and 
before he had been a month at sea he 
discovered mutiny among his crew, 
■which, with great difficulty, he sup- 
pressed. After saihng two months he 
entered the great bay which has since 
been called by his name, and which he 
supjiosed was the long-sought passage 
to the Pacific. Here lie soon tbund 
himself hemmed in, and d scoveriug 



1619. the fact too late to return to the At- 
lantic, he saw he must winter in that 
desolate region, with little provision 
and a mutinous crew. 

He rcniaincil there eight months be- 
fore the ice bivikc up around his ship 
S.I that he could leave. Utterly forlorn, 
and apprehending the worst results, he 
])rcpared for them as best he could, 
lie gave each of his men a certificate 
of his services and a statement of 
wages due him, and divided the re- 
maining provisions equally among the 
crew. During these preparations he 
was often aftVcted to tears. The leader 
of the mutiny was a man named Henry 
Green, a proti'g.;- of Hudson, who owed 
all he had to tlic rni)tain's bounty, and 
whose life li<. had savi.l. This man 
insiigated a niajurity of tlie crew to aid 
him in seizing Hudson and his friends, 
and the son of Hudson, a mere boy ; 
and thrusting them into a boat, they 
threw in some ammunition, a fowling- 
piece, an iron pot, and a bag of meal. 
They then cast off the rope, made sail, 
and left them to their fate. Nothing 
more was ever heard fiom them, and 
they must have all miserably perish- 
ed in a few days, as it was too early 
for birds to be seen in that frozeia 

Green and his chief abettor were, a 
few days after, killed in a fight with 
some Indians, and another died from 
hunger, and the miseralde remn.ant, 
emaciated to the last degiee, reached 
England in Seiitember, where two of 
their number revealed what had been 
done 31 

IGIO. The Jesuits decided upon Paraguay as a 
field for their labors. 

1012. The French Government founded the 

city of San Luiz do Maranhao, Brazi 

" The Virginia charter was enlarged, e 

tending 300 leagues from the coast, 

taking in all the islands included. 21il 

" The nefarious lottery scheme was enacted 

and put into practice in the Virginia 

colony, bringing £29,000 into the 

treasury of the London Company. 220 

" Pocahontas was taken prisoner by Capt. 

Argyl 220 

L613-1755. During this period Nova Scotia 
was three times dei^opulated through 
the nearly complete expatriation of 
the French-speaking colonists, by the 
English during their wars with the 
French. 
" April. Pocahontas was married to John 
Kolfe 220 

1614. New York settled by the Dutch on Man- 

hattan Island (now New York), and at 
Orange (now Albany) 300 

" Two Knulish vessels, under command of 
(■apt .b.ljn Smith and Thos. Hunt, 
j)rosp,.ct.Ml the shores of New England 
from Cape Cod to Penobscot. They 
drew a map of the coast and presented 
it to Prince Charles, who gave the 
country the name of New England. 300 

" Ca|it. Argyl, of the Virginia colony, makes 
a raid upon the settlement of New 
York, and demands their surrender to 
English authority. The colony were 
not able to resist, and for one year they 
were tribute to the colony of Vir- 
ginia 301 

1615. Champlain explores the country of the 

Hurons. 
" Jacob Elkin became Governor of tlie 
colony of New York, and he defied. 



and successfully resisted, the claims of 
the Virginia colony. 

The Dutch erect another fort on Long 
Island 301 

The Portuguese drive the French from 
their eolonv in Brazil. 

The cultivation of tob.acco first intro- 
ducrd into \'irLMnia 220 

BnllJn's r.av disr.u.nd by nartin. 

SirTlh.mas Dah' rcl urns to England, and 
the govirnnient of the colonies com- 
nnttcd to Mr. Geo. Yeardley 221 

Capt. Argyl succeeds Yeardley in the ad- 
ministration 221 

Pocahontas died in FnL'lan.l. Iiaving a 
son, wdio was i'.Idi all d tin re 31 

Lord Delaware ilitd on his ]ias-agi' to 
Virginia to accept the otlice of Gov- 
ernor, the people becoming weary of 
Capt. Argyl's tyranny 22 1 

Mr. Yeardley again accepts the ofBce of 
Governor of the Virginia colony. . 221 

June 19. First Colonial Assembly in 
Virginia " 221 

Nov. 10. The Mayjtower anchored in 
Cape Cod harbor. The first white 
child born of English parentage in 
New England, and named Peregrine 
White 46 

LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 

Dee. Landing of the Pilgrims at 
Plymouth, Mass 46 

England transported 100 felons to the 
Virginia colony to be used as serv- 
ants 221 

Aug. A cargo of negroes brought from 
the coast of Guinea by the Dutch, and 
sold to the Virginia planters 221 

Paraguay became independent. 

GIRLS SOLD AS WIVES. 
Cargo of girls sent to the Virginia colony 
and sold as wives. 

Many of the first settlers who came to 
Virginia were adventurer.?, and single 

expecting to amass enmigh ^^c ahli in a 
few years to return to tlnir native 
country and live at ease; but finding 
that if fortunes were made, they must 
be developed by cultivating the soil. 
Therefore, in order to suicessfuUy es- 
tablish themselves and build up homes 
they must procure the " home-keepers," 
and iis there were none here, they must 
be "imported," and to pay the expense 
of their passage, they were sold. 

Ninety young and respectable women 
were brought over in the first company, 
and were quickly disposed of, and the 
enterprise proved so successful that a 
second company were ordered, and 
sixty more came over. 

The price of a wife was at first esti- 
mated at 120 pounds of tobacco, which 
sold for three shillings per pound, and 
afierward thry lirought 150 ])ounds. 
This was con-iilrrid a very honorable 
transaction, and llir \vi\ as wure received 
with so much loiulncss, and were so 
comfortably established, that the jiro- 
ceeding added much happiness and 
dignity to the colony 221 

May 12. First marriage at Plymouth, 
Mass. 

Plymouth Company changed to Council 
of Plymouth, and a new charter grant- 
ed. 

The Dutch make a grant of New Nether- 
lands to their \V. I. Company. The 
W . I. Company build New Amsterdam 



CHRONOLOGY. 



743 



(New York), and found the city of 
Albany 300 

1G20. Schools for Indians established in Vir- 
ginia. 

1631-5. Unsuccessful attempt by Lord Balti- 
more to settle Newfoundland. 

1622. The Indian massacre at Jamestown. 

Three liundred and forty-seven of the 
colonists were killed in open day by 
the savages 232 

" Uruguay settled by Jesuits. 

" Grant of Laconia, parts of Maine and 
New Hampshire, obtained by Gorges 
and Mason from the Council at Pl>m- 
outli. 

" Settlement of Newfoundland attempted 
by Calvert. 

1623. Maine and New Hampshire settled by the 

English 3(i0 

" A Dutch fleet captured the city of Bahia 
in Brazil. 

" New Jersey settled by the Swedes and 
Dutch, and Fort Nassau built on the 
Delaware River. 

" First white child born of Dutch parent- 
age at New Amsterdam. 
1024. King James dissolved the Virginia Com- 
pany of London, and assumed control 
of the colonies in Virginia 33i5 

" Havana taken by the Dutch, but soon 
after restored. 
1635. Ring James discontinued the House of 
Representatives in Virginia, and sup- 
plied a new form of government to tlie 
colunies 334 

" Death of Iving James. 

" March. Charles I. ascends the throne of 
England. He appoints Sir George 
Yeardley over the colonies, at the head 
of a Council of 12 men 334 

PURCHASE OF MANHATTAN IFLAND. 

1626. York, or Manhattan Island, bought of 

the Indians. 

1627. Partnership of London merchants and 

American settlers dissolved. 

1628. Salem, Mass., settled by a colony of 

Puritans under John Endicot. 

1629. Massachusetts' charter surrendered to the 

settlers. 

" First settlement in New Hampshire. 

'' Charlestown founded by the Massachu- 
setts Bay colony 344 

" The Dutch took Pernambuco, and ex- 
tended their conquest from Para to the 
north coast of Brazil. 

" WoutiT Van Twiller appointed Governor 
of the Dutch colonies by the W. I. 
Company 301 

" Sir John Hai-vey succeeds Gov. Yeardley 
over the Virginia colony 234 

" The Freneli attempt to conquer New- 
foundland, which they hud long 
claimed. 

" Quebec taken by the English, who were 
led by three refugee French Calvinists. 

1630. Boston, Cambridge, Roxbury, and Dor- 

chester founded 344 

" John Winthrop, first Governor of Iilass. 

Bay Colony 59 

" First General Court held at Boston. 

'' Fifteen hundred Puritans, with a fleet of 

17 ships, ariive in New England. . 344 
" French settle in the islands of Tortuga 

and Ilayli. 

1631. The Puritans pass a law restricting all 

participation in public affiiirs, and all 
citizenship to church members. . . 244 

FIRST IRON WORKS. 
1601. First iron works in the U. S. built at 



Captain James, an Englishtnan, explored 
the country north of Hudson's Bay. 

First vessel built in the U. S., and called 
tlie Blessing of the Bay. 

Patent issued for the settlement of Con- 
necticut. 

June. James I. granted a charter of 
land to Lord Baltimore, which, in honor 
of the Queen, ho named Maryland. 377 

Canada restored to the French. 

Maryland settled by a Roman Catholic 
colony under Lord Baltimore, who.se 
kind treatment of the Indians wins 
their conlidencc. He purchased their 
finds, and dealt justly by them, ami 
e<tal)lished religious toleration... 377 

Elliott Mayhew and John Cotton, emi- 
nent I'uritan preachers, emigrate to New 
England on account of persecution in 
England _. . 344 

First liou^e erected in Connecticut at 
Windsor. 

Dutch church found a school in New 
Amsterdam. 

March. Maryland settled by Leonard 
Calvert 60 

Roger Williams banished from Massa- 
chusetts for preaching dissenting doc- 
trines 245 

Representative government established 
in Slassachusetts 373 

The French make another settlement in 

March 8. First Assembly of Maryland 
ccmvened, composed of the whole body 
of freemen 278 

Hartford, Conn., settled. 

The Virginia colonists send Gov. Harvey 
a prisoner to England, and appeal for 
redress to the King through a deputa- 
tion of their own choosing 224 

July 4. Providence, R. I., founded by 
Roger Williams. 

Slassachusetts' colony makes a treaty of 
peace with the Narraganset Indians. 

King Charles refuses the Virginia 
deputies a hearing, and returns Gov. 
Harvey to the colonies 225 

First^vnod convened at Newton (Cam- 
bridge), Mass. 

Destruction of the Pequot Indians in 
Connecticut 240 

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. 

Mrs. Annie Hutchinson was banished 
from Massachusetts for contending for 
freedom of debate in religious meet- 
ings. She became a leader of a schism, 
and John Cotton, Gov. Vane, and a 
number of prominent ministers were 
among her followers. In consequence 
of her banishment. Gov. Vane quitted 
the colonies and returned to En- 
gland 248 

Harvard College founded with an appro- 
priation of £400. 

First Congregational Synod in Massa- 
chusetts. 

A fleet of 30 ships arrives in Jlassachu- 
tetts from England with 8,000 emi- 
grants 248 

Another massacre of the colonists of 
Jamestown occurs, instigated by Opech- 
ananough, successor to I'owhattan, 
and 5ti0 colonists are kilkd 325 

Nevv Haven founded by Katon and 
Davenport. 

June 1. Earthquake in New England. 

Massachusetts colony makes a treaty 
with the Mohegans. 

April. First settlement in Delaware 
made by the Swedes 301 



1638. Kieft was Governor of New Netherlands. 
" Harvard college endowed by Rev. John 

Harvard, for whom it was named. 

1639. Gov. Harvey removed from the Virginia 

colony, and SirWm. Berkeley appoint- 
ed in his place. He established a 
Colonial Assembly, and founded a sys- 
tem of English jurisprudence on 
American soil 226 

FIRST PRINTING-PRESS IN NORTH AMERICA. 

1639. First printing-press in North America, 

set up at Cambridge, Mass., by Stephen 

Day. 
" Corn-planting was enforced by law in 

Maryland, and a grist-mill erected. 
" First public hospital in America, founded 

at Quebec. 
" A written Constitution framed and adoirt- 

ed by the people of Connecticut. 
'' Newport, Rhode Island, founded. 

1640. Montreal founded. 

" First powder mills erected in the United 
States. 

" New England numbered 3,100 inhabit- 
ants, with 100 ministers; £200,000 had 
been expended in transportation of 
emigrants 250 

1641. Opechananough shot, and the Indian war 

in Virginia soon after terminated, 225 

(see foot-note.) 
" Beginning of representative government 

in New Netherlands. 
" New Hampshire settlers submitted to 

jurisdiction of Massachusetts. 

1642. The English House of Commons, by vote, 

exempt the New England colonies 
from duties upon goods, either im- 
ported or exported 251 

" Oct. 9. The first commencement at 
Harvard College. 
1642-45. Indian war in Maryland. 

1643. May 19. Union of the New England col- 

onies with the Dutch settlements of 
New York for mutual protection. . 251 

" The Dutch become involved in a war 
with the Indians, and the N. E. colonies 
give them aid and sustenance 351 

" First Union formed by the colonies of 
Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
and New Haven, under the name of 
the United Colonies of New England. 

1644. Treaty of peace between the N. E. 

colonies and the French settlements of 
Acadia 251 

1644-45. Rebellion in Maryland and war with 
the Indians in Virginia. 

1644. Rhode Island obtained a charter. 

TUE NEW ENGLAND "BLUE LAWS." 

1644^6. "Blue Laws" passed, among which 
are to be found these peculiar enact- 
ments : 

Blasphemy, idolatry, adultery, and 
witchcraft were punished by death, 
and for any crime committed on Sun- 
day, the additional punishment of 
cutting ofl" an ear was added. Kissing 
a woman on the street was punished 
by flogging, which penalty was actually 
inflicted about a century later upon an 
English sea-captain, who saluted his 
wife on a street in Boston, after a long 
separation. Intemperance and all im- 
morality were jmnished with great 
rigor, and keepers of inns and public- 
houses were required to be persons of 
approved character, and possessed of 
a competency, as they were licld re- 
sponsible for the conduct of theirguests 



CHRONOLOGY. 



and the morality of their houses — a 
" blue-law," which it would be well for 
the country were it now in vogue. 

TRIALS Ai^l) ESECUTIONS FOR -WITCnCEAFT. 

1C45. First trials and executions for witchcraft 
in New England occurred this year, 
when four persons were put to death 
in Massachusetts for the "crime of 
witchcraft." Although the belief in 
witchcraft had prevailed almost uni- 
versally in Christian countries, yet the 
peculiar malady, which was attributed 
to " witchcraft," did not appear until 

near a half century later 271 

" CleyboruB's rebellion in Maryland. . . 278 
104C. Massachusetts passes an act for the sjiread 
of the Gospel anion;;; the Indians, and 
John Elliot preaches to them in their 
own tongue. 
" The Assembly of Maryland (Roman 
Catholic) pass laws tolerating liberty 
of conscience in religious belief The 
first colony of America to grant toler- 
ance 379 

1C47. Massachusetts made the support of 
schools compuUory, and education uni- 
versal and free. 
" Thomas Mayhew establishes a mission 
.. among the Indians of Martha's Vine- 
yard, Nantucket, and Elizabeth Isles, 

and was eminently successful 353 

" Arrival at New Amsterdam of Stuyvesant, 
Dutch director-general of New Nether- 
lauds. 
1048. New London, Conn., settled. 
UAd. English Parliament formed a missionary 
society for the conversion of Indians iii 
America. 
1C50. Harvard College chartered. 
" Maryland extends toleration to political 

principles 378 

" Constitution of Maryland settled 279 

1G51. Navigation Act passed by England, re- 
stricting the commerce of the col- 
onies 264 

" The English Parliament attempts to sub- 
ject the colonies of Virginia. They 
dispatch an armament under Sir Geo. 
Ayscue. Berkeley hires some Dutch 
ships, and aided by the colonists, resists 
them, and compels the English Govern- 
ment to grant the colonies the same 
privileges enjoyed by the free jjeople of 
England, and a right to free trade with 

all nations 220 

" Thirty lashes were inflicted upon Obadiah 
Holmes for preaching Baptist doctrines 
in Massachusetts ; and persons who dis- 
approved of infant baptism, or taught 
otherwise, were banished from the col- 
ony 255 

1653. The province of Maine appealed to the 
colony of Massachusetts for protection. 

Their petition was granted 30 

" The first regular book-seller in America 

was Hezekiah Usher, of Boston. 
" First mint established in New England, 
in Massachusetts. 

1053. Cromwell subverted the English Par- 

liament and maintained peace in the 
colonies till his death 236 

1054. Yale College first projected by Mr. Daven- 

port. 

" Guiana seized by the English. 

" Cleyborne institutes a religious war upon 
the Catholic colonies of Maryland, and 
proceeds to reduce them to subjec- 
tion 379 

1055. Stuyvesant captures the Swedish settle- 

ment in Delaware 230 



1655. Jamaica taken by the English, who retain 
it by tlie treaty of Madrid. 

PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKEE3. 
1G5G. Quakers first arrive in Massachusetts. 
Their persecution by the Puritans. 355 
" Religious intolerance was carried to such 
an extent by these misguided zealots, 
that they actually tormented and ))ut 
to death by scores the only Christian 
sect in America who advocated tlie 
doctrine of peace, and who denied the 
right of man to take life under auy 
circumstances. 

1658. The people of Virginia erect the standard 

ofChailea II., and elect Sir VVm. Berke- 
ley to the Presidency 236 

1659. Four Quakers executed on Boston Com- 

mon 257 

1660. Charles II. restored to the throne of En- 

gland, and Berkeley sent by the col- 
onies 'to congratulate him. He is re- 
ceived at the Court of England with 
royal favor, 226 (foot-note). 

" The Dutch renounced all claims to Bra- 
zilian territory. 

" Elliot founds an Indian church in Massa- 
chusetts 2ri3 

" Trial by jiu-y restored by Charles II. . 226 

" Church of England established by Charles 
II., and no preachers but those regularly 
ordained by the Bishops of England 
were allowed to preach in the colo- 
nies 33(3 

" Quakers prohibited from emigrating to 
Virginia under severe penalties, ex- 
cepting, however, such as were trans- 
ported for violation of English law. 226 

" A dutyof 5 per cent, was levied by the 
English Government upon all merchan- 
dise of import or export in the 
American colonies 337 

" Great English Navigation Act estab- 
lished 327 

" Supreme authority of the peojjle de- 
clared in Maryland. 

1662. Three persons hung for witchcraft in 

Hartford, Conn 371 

" Connecticut colony obtain a royal charter. 

1663. New charter granted to Rhode Island. 
" Popular assembly in New Amsterdam. 



1600- 



EEMAEKABLE EARTHQUAKE. 

" Feb. 5. Remarkalile earthquake lasting 
wiih short intervals for six months, 
and extending over the greater part of 
North America. The face of the coun- 
try in some localities entirely changed. 

" New Netherlands conquered by the En- 
glish, and the colonies of New York 
and New Jersey founded, with Eliza- 
bethtown as the capital of the latter. 

" Carolina granted to Lord Clarendon by 
Charles II., and a liberal form of gov- 
ernment established 3S7 

'' First settlement in North Carolina. 
1664. Guiana again taken by the French. 

■' Aug. 27. New Amsterdam surrendered 
to the English, and Colonel Nichols 
appointed British Governor 304 

" Elliot translated and printed the Bible 
in the language of the American In- 
dians 353 

" A royal charter granted the colony at 
Albemano, and Drummond appointed 
Governor with a Council. 

" First permanent settlement in New 
Jersey. 
1005. Every town iu MaGfl.-ichusctts had a free 
school. 

" June 12. New York City incorporated. 



1005. Representative government established 
in New Jer.sey. 
Union of New Haven and Connecticut- 
colonies. 
1605-70. Jesuit missions founded on Lake 
•Superior by Pere Allouez. 
. Wnrquette, a Jesuit missionary to the 
Indians of tlie Northwest, explored the 
Mississippi River and adjacent country 
to Arkansas. 
1060. Tlic Nir^iiii.i colony convened an As- 

, s.iul.ly 387 

Nv^r,, sl:ivis introduced into Carolina 
irom the liarl irdoes by Yeamans. . 288 

" Death of Lor<l Baltimore 381 

" The Assembly of Jlirvland pass an act 
for the naturalization of aliens 281 

" Act of 1049 confirmed, establishing ab- . 
solute political equality among all 
Christian denominatinns 283 

" Nova Scotia ceded to the French by the 
Treaty of Breda 306 

" Samuel Stevens succeeded Drummond as 
Governor of .Ubemarlc. A more demo- 
cratic form of government was estah- 
I'shed 287 

1070. A colony of loyalists and noblemen at- 
tempt to establi-h an aristocracy and 
a town at Port Rnvnl, ini.l.r jiatmnage 
of the Duke of All,, inailr, rilling It 
Charlestcni, in honor ol the Kini;. . 287 

" First settlement in South Carolina. 

1071. Old Charlestown founded on Ashlt-y River. 
" Massachusetts colmy make a treaty of 

peace with King Philip, an Indian 

warrior of great renown 633 

1672. First copyright granted by Massachusetts. 

" A mail route established between New 
York and Boston by way of Hart- 
ford. 
1073. The Dutch found a colony on Ashley- 
River, and call it Jamestown 290 

'' Mississippi River explored by Marquette 
and Joliet. 

" New England contained 120,000 inhabit- 
ants. Boston had 15,000, and beggary 
was unknown in the colonies "263 

" New York retaken by the Dutch 300 

" George Fox, foundur of the Quakers, 
visits America. 
1G74. First Legislative Assembly meets in South 
Carolina. 

" New York restored to the English. 
1075. June 31-. Commencement of King 
Philip's war. Attack on Swanzey. 363 

" Indians were snld by New England to 
the West Indies 3G3 

bacon's rebellion. 

1676. Bacon's rebellion in Virginia. Berkeley 

attempts to suppress it, and a civil war 
was declared 337 

" Guiana taken by the Dutch. 

" Jamestown burned and the houses of the 
loyalists pillaged, and their property 
destroyed 339 

" Aug. 12. King Philip killed and his 
tribe scattered, and the greater part 
destroyed chiefly through the great 
valor and perseverance of Capt. Benja- 
min Church 659, 696 

" New Jersey divided into East and West 
•Jersey 317 

" Maryland established a mint 381 

1677. The colony of Massachusetts purchase 

the territory of Maine from Ferdi- 
nando Gorges, grandson of Ferdinand 
Gorges, the founder of Maine 363 

" Guiana restored to the French. 

" (Quakers settle West Jersey 320 

" Jamestown, Xa, destroyed. 
1679-10.S7. La Salle, the French explorer, trav- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



745 



ersed the great lakes, descended the 
Oliio River to the falls, and the Missis- 
sippi to its mouth. 
1680. Foundation of modern Charleston laid, 
which soon became the port of trade 
and the capital of Carolina 2y3 

" Portugal establishes colonies in Uruguay. 

" A war broke out between the Carolina 
colonics and the Indians, which was 
speedily terminated by tho Governor 
oftering a bounty upon every captive 
Indian 293 

" Indians were sold to the West Indies as 
slaves in exchange for rum 21)3 

WILLIAM PEXN. 

1G81. March 14. Pennsylvania granted to "Wm. 

I'enn, who colonized it Sa(i 

" Penn starts a colony on the Delaware 

River 336 

" First Legislative Asscmlily of Quakers. 
" First Legislature of New Jersey convened. 

1682. Oct. 24. Penn arrives in America. . 328 
" Penn makes a treaty with the Indians, 

and pays them for their lands. . . . 329 
" Tlie city of Philadelphia founded. . 330 
" De La Salle takes po-session of the coun- 
try on both sides the Mississippi River, 
calling it Louisiana. 
" Gov. West, of Carolina, holds a par'i.a- 
ment in Charkston to pass laws for the 
general protection of the colonies. 293 
" East Jersey bought by the Quakers. .318 
" Fir-t Legislature of Pennsylvania. 

1683. Lord Craven appointed Governor of 

Carolina in place of West 293 

" First Legislative Assembly held in New 
York 308 

" Second Assembly held in Philadelphia, 
and a new Constitution adopted and 
new laws passed 330 

" Roger Williams dies in his 84th year. 

] fi84. Carolina encourages the trafiic in Indians. 

168.5. Piracy in the West Indies was encouraged 

by Gov. Quarry, of Carolina. 

" King James, through Governor Arnold, 
cancels the charter of Rhode Island, 
and extends the royal government of 
New England to that dependency. 267 

" Arnold proceeds to Hartford with a body 
of troops and demanfls the surrender 
of their charter. The Assembly were 
in session. They artfully conceal the 
charter, and refuse to give it up. . 267 
1686. First Episcopal parish formed in Boston. 

" Massachusetts deprived of her char- 
ter 266 

" The Spaniards invade South C'arohna, 
and destroy the settlement at Port 

Royal 294 

1GS7. First printing-press established near 
Philadelphia by William Bedford. 

" Revolution in England, and King James 
driven away. 
10.8. New York and New .Jersey colonies 
united to New England. 

A WOIIAN EXECUTED FOE WITCHCEAFT. 

1088. A woman executed in Boston for witeh- 
cr.aft, after a lonsj and solemn investi- 
gation, and a book was publ slied with 
a full account of the proceedings, to 
w hich was added a preface, by the Kcv. 
Richard Baxter, in which lie declared, 
" that any one who disbelieved the 
truthfulness of the account was a 
S.adducee " 271 

1689. William III. accedes to the English 
throne. 
" Sir Eflmund Andros se:zed and im- 
prisoned in Boston, and sent h me to 



England. Tho people rise in mass and 
resort to firms 268 

1089-97. King William's war between the 
French, with their Indian allies, and 
New England 369 

1690. Fob. 8. Schenectady burned by the 

French and Indians. 

" Tho colonies attack Quebec, under 

Phipps; reinforcements failing him, 

he retreats with a loss of 1,000 men. 269 



FIRST PAPER MONEY. 

First paper money issued in Massachu- 
setts. 

Expedition against Port Royal, Nova 
Scotia, by Sir Wm. Phipps, of Mass.a- 
chusetis 269 

Trial and execution of Leisler and Mil- 
bourne, at New York, on a charge of 
treason. 

New England contained 1.50,000 inhabit- 
ants. 

Acadia seized and plundered. 

Maryland made a royal province. 

Massachusetts Bay colony and Plymouth 
colony united under a new charter; 
Phipps appointed Governor 270 

Sir Edmund Andros appointed Governor 
of New England by .Tames II 231 

William and Mary College, Virginia, 
chartered. 

Massachusetts made a royal province, 
and Pennsvlvania taken from William 
Penn. 



A PLAGUE ASCELIED TO -WITCnCKAFT. 

1093. Witchcraft in Salem, and many people 
put to death. A strange and epidem- 
ical distemper, resembling epilepsy, ap- 
peared in Salem, which baffled the skill 
of the physicians, who, failing to ac- 
count for it, or produce a cure, persuad- 
ed the poor victims to ascribe it to 
'•Witchcraft." Impelled by a dark 
and cruel superstition, the " Christian 
people " declared these unfortunate 
creatures to be " po.ssesscd of the 
devil." Accordingly, solemn fasts and 
assemblies for extraordinary prayer 
were held by the clergy. Inflamed by 
a f\inatical zeal, and inspired by a spirit 
which was a relic of the dark and bar- 
barous ages they were just emerging 
from, these deluded yet truly conscien- 
tious and pious people, resorted to the 
most cruel punishments and death, to 
exterminate a plague which their sol- 
emn fasts and long-continued prayers 
and protestations had failed to cure. 271 

1693. Episcopal Church established at New 

York. 
" First printino:-press established at New 
York by William Bradford. 

1694. Penn's rights in Pennsylvania restored. 
1095. Rice tirst introduced into Carolina from 

Africa. 
" John Archdale appointed Governor of 
South Carolina. His wise administra- 
tion established peace in the colo- 
nies 297 

1696. Archdale resigns and returns to England. 

The grateful acknowdedgments of the 
colonics accompany him. Joseph Blake 

appointed his successor 297 

" Indian -attack on Haverhill. 

1697. Close of King William's war. 

1698. French colony arrive at the mouth of 

the iMississippi. 
" Earl of Belmont ajipoiu'ed Governor of 
New York. 



CAPTAIN KIDD. 

1699. Capt. Kidd, the pirate, apprehended at 

Boston. 
*' The capital of Maryland removed from 

St. Jlary"s to Annapolis 285 

" Louisiana settled by the French at what 

is now Biloxi, Mississippi. 

1700. Lead mines discovered by Le Sucr, a 

French explorer, at Dnbuque, Iowa. 
" Death of Gov. Blake, of South Carolina. 
" Fort Rosalie built near tho present site 

of the city of Natchez. 

1701. Detroit founded by the French. 

" Commencement of Queen Anne's war. 
" Yale College founded. 
'' New frame of government given to Penn- 
sylvania. 

1702. Mobile settled by the French and became 

the capital of Louisiana. 
" Episcojial Church founded in New Jersey 

and Rhode Island. 
" The Jerseys united in a royal province. 

1703. Culture of silk introduced into Carolina. 
" Duty of £4 sterling laid on imported 

negroes in Massachusetts. 

" Gov. Moore succeeded Blake in South 
Carolina. 

" An Indian war, instigated by the Span- 
iards, was prosecuted with great 
violence in South Carolina. But Gov. 
Moore speedily suppressed it, and the 
enemy surrendered and submitted to 
English rule. The colonies lost 800 

" Fourteen hundred Indians were colo- 
nized in Georgia. 

1704. Tuuaage duty laid by Rhode Island on 

foreign vessels. 
" Maryland passed an act to " prevent tho 

growth of Popery." 
" First newspaper (Boston News-Letter) 

published at Boston by Bartholomew 

Green. 
" Catholics persecuted by Protestants in 

Maryland 285 

StASSACEE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

" French and Indian massacre at Deerfield, 
Mass. They burned the village ami 
killed 47 persons, taking 113 captive, 
among them many women and young 
children, who were compelled to march 
through dense forests and over deep 
snows to Canacl,a, many perishing by 

the way 646 

1706. Bills of credit issued by Carolina. 

1709. First printing-press in Connecticut set 

up at New London by Thos. Short. 

1710. First colonial post-office at New York. 

" Germans plant a colony in North Caro- 
lina. 

" Nova Scotia permanently annexed to the 
British crown. 

1711. South Sea Company incorporated. 

1712. Free schools founded in Charlestown, 

Mass. 

MASSACEE IX NORTII CAEOLINA. 
" Indian massacre in North Carolina. One 
hundred and thirty-seven of the colo- 
nists killed at first attack. Assisted liy 
South Carolina, the colonists make a 
general .attack upon the Indians and 
defeat them with great slaughter, and 
drive them from the province. . . . 299 

1713. Close of Queen Anne's war. 

" Final cession of Nova Scotia to Great 

Britain. 
" Slaves are transported to South Carolina, 

by British ships, in great numbers, to 

cultivate lice. 



746 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1714. First scliooner built at Cape Ann. 

1715. New Orleans and Natchez founded by the 

French. 

1717. Spanish Government monopolize the to- 

bacro traao. 
" Yale College removed from Saybrook to 
New Haven. 

1718. Impost duties laid by Mas<:aehusetts on 

English manufactures and English 
ships. 

1719. First Presbyterian church founded in New 

York. 

1730. Tea first introduced into New England. 
" Lead mines first worked in Missouri by 

Keynoult and La Motte. 

1731. Inoculation for small-pox introduced into 

N. E 405 

1733. Paper money first used in Pennsylvania. 
1735. First newspaper in New York (N. Y. 

Gazette) published by Wm. Bradford. 
1727. Earthquake in New England. 
1730. Printing-press and newspaper establi.shed 

atCharlcstown, Soutli Carolina. 

1732. Tobacco and corn made legal tender in 

Maryland. 

BIKTII OF WASHINGTON. 

" Birth of Geo. Washington in Washington 
parish, Virginia. 

" Firjit printing-press and newspaper es- 
tablished at Newyjort. R. I. 

" Carolina divided into North and South 
Carolina 353 

" June. Georgia founded by Oglethorp, 
and a charter granted. 

1733. Feb. Savannah, Ga., founded. 

FIRST MASONIC GRAND LODGE IN AMERICA. 

1733. July 30. First Grand Lodge of Free- 

masons on the American continent, 
constituted in New England, and called 
St. John's Grand Lodge, by Henry 
Price, a successful merchant of Boston, 
who received his appointment from 
Anthony, Lord Viscount Montague, 
Grand Master of England. Mr. Price 
is consiiiered the father of Masonry in 
the United States. 

" First Freemasons' lodge held at Boston. 

" England colonized paupers in Geor- 
gia 352 

1734. Revival of religion in New England under 

Jonathan Edwards. 

1735. Vincennes, Ind , founded by the French. 
1736-7. Preaching of the Wesleys in Georgia. 

1737. Eartlujuake in New Jersey. 

1738. CoUeu'c at Princeton, N. J., founded. 

1739. Attack upon the Spaniards in Florida by 

Admiral Vernon 353 

1740. First stove (aca<t-iron fireplace) invented 

by Dr. Franklin, upon which he re- 
fused to accept letters patent offired 
him by the Gov. of Pa., wishing to give 
the benefit of his discovery to the 
people. 

1741. " General Magazine and Historical Chron- 

icle " pulili-^hed by Franklin. 

" New Hampshire separated from Massa- 
chusetts. 

" July 18. Vitus Behring, a celebrated 
Russian explorer, discovered Alaska. . 

1743. Faneuil Hall built by Peter Faneuil. 

1744. King George's war began. 

1745. Louisbourg, on Cape Breton Island, ta- 

ken by the English under Col. Pep- 
perel 353 

1746. England and France determined to wage 

a war of exterrainatirm upon each 

other in their American colonies. . 353 

" Gov. Shirley attempted to drive the 

French and Indians from Nova Scotia 



was defeated. He attackiil iIh' ciiciny 

at Crown Point '■'■'>'■'• 

174G. French fleet under D'Auviih- destroy, ■.!. 

1748. New England troops compelled to re- 
linquish Louisbourg 353 

" New England issues bills of credit. . 353 

1749. Moravian Seminary, first eminent school 
for girl^, organized at Bethlehem, Pa. 

Ohio Company chart.Ted. 

1751. Sugar-cane first cultivated in the IT. S. 
l)y the Jesuits, on the banks of the 
Mississippi River, above N. O. The 
plants were brought from San Do- 
mingo. 

1753. Georgia becomes a royal province. 



wounded. Fifteen hundred were killed 
or carried captive into the wilder- 
ness '. 335 

The British forces under Gen. Aber^ 
crombie numbered 50,000 men— the 
largest army that had ever been mar- 
shaled in America. 

June 2. I,..uisl.niiri;, on Cai.f Breton 



Isl:; 



ith Is 



Washington's perilous mission. 

1753. Geo. Washington, at the age of 31 years, 
was sent by Gov. Uinwiddie, of Vir- 
ginia, to the French commander, on 
the banks of the Ohio, to ccmfer in re- 
gard to a settlement of rights of terri- 
tory. Unsuccessful in his mission he 
returned on foot, a distance of over 
500 miles, through a wild and dan- 
gerous country, with but one compan- 
ion. The Indians followed him and 
attempted his life by shooting at him 
from an amlaish 354 

1754. Columbia College founded in New York. 
" King's (l^ohnnbia) College chartered. 
" Tennessee first settled. 

"fort necessity." 

" April 3. Col. Frye w.as sent with a 
regiment of Virginia troops, aided by 
Geo. Washington, who was second in 
command, to occupy the fort of the 
Allegheny and Monongaliela Rivers. 
Finding the French had already erected 
a fort, calling it "Du Quesne," they 
hastened to attack the French, sur- 
prising and defeating them. 

Col. Frye dying, Washington took 
command of the regiment, and, collect- 
ing his troops at the Great Meadows, 
he elected a stockade, calling it " Fort 
Necessity." 
" July 4. Washington, attacked here by a 
large body of French and Indians, was 

forced to capitulate 354 

1755. First newspaper (Conn. Oazeite) pub- 
lished in New Haven. 
" Col. Monckton destroyed French settle- 
ment on Bay of Fnndy. 
" April 14. Gen. Braddock arrived from 
England in Virginia with a large 
force. 
" June. The English take Nova Scotia 

under Lieut.-Col. Winslow 354 

" July 9. The English troops under Gen. 
Braddock put to flight by the Indians 
near Fort Du Quesne, and over half 
the army, otficers and men, together 
with Gen. Braddock, were lost . . 354 
" Gen. Shirley became Commander-in- 
chief, and called a council of war at 

New York 355 

'' Sept. 8. Americans defeated by the 

French near Lake George. 
" French defeated by the Americans same 
day. 
175G. May 19. War declared with France by 
Great Britain. 
" First newspaper in Portsmouth. 
" Aug. 14 The French under Montcalm 
cdptured Fort Oswego, with valuable 

stores 355 

1757. Fort Wm. Henry taken by the French. 
The Indians full upon the retreating 
garrison and mas=acre the sick and 



Gen. Amherst. Two liundretl and 
twenty-one pieces of cannon, 18 mor- 
tars, and large stores of ammunition 
fell into the' hands of the English. 
Six thousand prisoners were taken and 
sent to England 35() 

" July. Lord Howe killed near Ticonde- 
roga. 

" Aug. 37. Fort Frontignac taken by the 
English under Col. Braristreet. The 
booty consisted of 00 pieces of cannon 
and a great number of small arms, 
military .*;tores, provisions, and a large 
amount of goods. Nine armed vessels 
and the fort were destroyed 857 

" Nov. 35. Fort Du Quesne evacuated by 
the French and taken possession of by 
the English under Gen. Forbes and 
Col. Washington 357 

" Peace with the Imlians was secured be- 
tween the ( »liio l;iver and the lakes. 357 

" Gen. Washington elected to the Virginia 
House of Burgesses. 

759. July. Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown 
Point taken by the English under 
Gens. Amherst and Johnson 357 

DEATH OF GENS. WOLFE AND MONTCALM. 

1759. Sept. 13. Battle before Quebec, on the 

Plains of Abraham. Gen. Wolfe, com- 
manding the American forces, sur- 
prised and attacked the French army, 
under Montcalm, at break of day. _ A 
desperate battle was fought, during 
which, Wolfe and Montcalm were 

slain 358 

" Sept. 18. Snrrend.T of(Ji..l.,c 3'.l0 

1760. Apr. 28. The Fr. n. li aitnujjt to take 

Quebec, without siuvrs-. 358 

" Montreal capitulates, and the French sur- 
render Canada 359 

17G1. March 13. Earthquake in New England. 

" George III. ascends the throne of En- 
gland. 
1703. Louisiana ceded to Spain by France. 

•' Havana taken by the English. 
1703. Feb. 10. France surrenders all her pos- 
sessions in North America, east of the 
Mississippi River, to Great Britain. 359 

" First newspaper printed in Georgia. 

" Canada ceded to England by France. 

" Havana restored to the Frenci in ex- 
change for Florida. 

" Feb. 10. Peace concluded between the 

English and French at Paris 488 

Free commercial intercourse between 
Cuba and Spain granted by the 
Spanish Government. 

CHIEF PONTIAC'S WAR. 

A p.agacious Ottawa Chief and a former 
ally of the French, secretly (ifected a 
confederation of several north-western 
tribes of Indians, for the ])urpose of 
expelling the English. Within two 
weeks he seized nearly all the English 
posts west of Oswego, but he was soon 
subdued and his war brought to an end. 

Cape Breton, thrice attacked an I thrice 
taken from the French and annexed to 
Nova Scotia. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



747 



Mar. Right to tax American colonies 
voted by the nousc of Commons. 

Ajjr. 5. First act for levying revenue 
passed by Parliament. 

Patagonia visited by Byron. 

Sugar-making from cane, perfected. 

TDE STAMP ACT. 

Mar. 22. Passage of the Stamp Act. 
This act required the people to pur- 
chase for specified sums, and upon all 
written documents. Government stamps 
must be placed. This act caused the 
most intense excitement and indigna- 
tion in America. 

First Medical College established in 
Philadelphia. 

May 29. Virginia resolutions against 
the right of taxation. 

June 26. Massachusetts proposes a Con- 
gress of deputies from the colonies. 

Oct. 7. A Congress of 27 delegates con- 
venes at New York, and publishes a 
declaration of rights and rules against 
the Stamp Act. 
Feb. Dr. Fianklin examined before the 
House of Commons. 

Mar. 18. Stamp Act repealed. 

First stage route established between 
Providence and Boston. 

Methodism first introduced into America 
by Philip Embury and Capt. Webb, a 
British officer whom Wesley had or- 
dained as a local preacher. 

June. Taxation laid on paper, glass, tea, 
and painters' colors 363 

Non-importation agreements adopted by 
the colonies 305 



MASON AND DIXON S LINE. 

" Mason and Dixon's Line, run by sur- 
veyors of that name, sent out by the 
heirs of William Penn and Lord Balti- 
more, to define the boundaries of their 
possessions. It afterward became the 
acknowledged line between the tree 
and slave States. 
1708. Feb. Convention of deput'es called by 
Massachusetts at Faneuil Hall, Bos- 
ton 3G4 

" The British Government stationed a mil- 
itary force in Boston. This was the 
beginning of hostilities, which rapidly 
engendered a spirit of resistance in the 
American colonies toward the mother 

country 364 

17C9. House of Burgesses (Assembly) of Vir- 
ginia dissolved by the Governor, with 
as little ceremony as a teacher would 
dismiss a class of boys 364 

" Assembly of North Carolina dissolved by 
the Governor 365 

" Boston refused to receive goods from 
Great Britain, and sent them back. 

" Paper-mill erected at Milton. 

1770. Prince Edward's Island separated from 

Nova Scotia. 
" March 5. Boston massacre. A mob com- 
posed of citizens of tioston attacks the 
British soldiers, and during the fray 
three citizens are killed and five 
wounded 300 

THE NORTH CAROLINA REBELLION. 

1771. Rebellion in North Carolina against the 

Government officers by the Regulators, 
a band of citizens who determined to 
resist the oppression of the English 
Government, and redress the people. 
" May 10. The rebellion suppressed by 



Governor Tryon, and six Regulators 
hanged, which created intense hatred 
against the British Government. 

1772. June 9. A British man-of-war, the Oaspee, 

burned in Narraganset Bay, by a party 
of Americans from Providence. 

1773. First Methodist Conference, consisting of 

ten preachers, all of foreign birth. 
" First asylum for the blind was at Wil- 
liamsburg, Virginia. 

DESTRUCTION OF TEA m BOSTON HARBOR. 
.773. Dec. 16. The citizens of Boston throw a 
cargo of tea into the ocean, which was 
sent by Great Britain in open disregard 
and violation of the act of the colonies 
against receiving any merchandise sub- 
ject to tariff 368 

774. Shakers founded by Ann Lee, an English 
woman. 

" May 13. General Gage arrived in Boston 
harbor as commander of the royal 
forces of North America. He was also 
empowered to act as Governor of Mas- 
sachusetts 371 

'' June 6. Boston harbor was blockaded by 
the English, and all commerce inter- 
dicted 368 

'' The executive power was taken from the 
colonies, and their charter altered with- 
out consultation of the people. . . . 369 

" Gen. Gage fortifies Boston Neck. 

" The members of the Massachusetts As- 
sembly resolve themselves into a Pro- 
vincial Congress 371 

" The colonics all unite in approving the 
spirit of resentment shown by Massa- 
chusetts against the oppressive taxa- 
tion of Great Britain 371 

" Gen. Gage was reinforced by two regi- 
ments of soldiers and a detachment of 
artillery and some cannon, and reinforce- 
ments from Ireland, Halifax, Quebec, 
and New York, arrived soon after. 371 

" The colonies proceed to enlist and drill a 
portion of the citizens as minute-men, 
and appoint committees of safety and 
supplies 373 

" Masachusetts calls for 12,000 men to be 
equipped for service 373 

" Gen. Gage orders barracks to be built to 
protect his soldiers, but he can not 
find workmen who will build them. 
He applies to New York for mechanics, 
and is peremptorily refused ; the mer- 
chants of New York also refuse to sell 
him clothing for his soldiers 373 

" Great Britain prohibits the exportation 
of military stores, upon which the peo- 
ple of Rhode Island seized 40 pieces of 
cannon from the public battery, and 
proceed to arm the inhabitants. 

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 
" Sept. 14. Representatives from twelve 
colonies met in Philadelphia as a Con- 
tinental Congress, to enact measures 
for the regulation of order, and for the 

protection of the people 373 

They prepared an address to the 
Kiug, declaring their loyalty, but de- 
manding redress for their grievances. 
374 
" Oct. 26. Congress adjoui-ned, to convene 

the 10th of May, 1775 375 

All the colonies, except New York, 
heartily concurred in the proceedings 

of the Continental Congress 375 

" Great Britain prohibited all the colonies, 
except New York, Delaware, and North 
Carolina, from fishing upon the coast 



of New Foundland, and from trading 
with the West Indies 373 

These colonics spurned the iav<ir, de- 
signed only to arouse a spirit of 
jealousy and disunion among the other 
colonics, and submitted to the restric- 
tion, much to their pecuniary disad- 
vantage 373 

Dec. 13. A company of volunteers at- 
tacked the fort at Portsmouth, N..H., 
confined the garrison, and seized the 

powder S73 

All law was abolished, except what 
was vested in the military ofiieers, but 
the most perfect order and unanimity 
existed among the people 373 

Cape Breton detached from Nova Scotia. 

Parliament passed an act to provide for 
the government of the province of 
Quebec. 

PEYTON RANDOLPH. 

When the first Continental Congress met 
in Philadelphia, they chose Peyton 
Randolph, of Virginia, to preside over 
them. He was descended from one of 
the oldest families of that Common- 
wealth. The law was his profession, 
and, in 1750, he was Attorney-General 
of that colony. He was chosen Presi- 
dent of the Second Continental Con- 
gress in May, 1775, and died in Oc- 
tober. 

Apr. 14. First Society for the Abolition 
of Slavery was formed in Philadelphia, 
with Benjamin Franklin as President. 

BATTLE OF LESINGTON. 

Apr. 19. Battle of Lexington was fought. 
This was the beginning of open hostil- 
ities. The British, with 800 soldiers 
under Lieut.-Col. Smith, marched from 
Boston on the night of the 18th to de- 
stroy the stores of the colonists at 

Concord 381 

The people were warned of their in- 
tention?, and at 5 o'clock in the morn- 
ing a small company of militia met at 
Lexington to resist them. Major Pit- 
cairn, a Biitish officer, rode up to them, 
ordering them to disperse, discharging 
his pistol at them, and ordering his 
soldiers to fire at the " rebels " . . . . 381 
The miHtia dispersed, but the Hritish 
soldiers continued to fire upon them, 
and they returned the fire; a few 

Americans were killed 381 

The royal forces marched to Con- 
cord, destroyed the stores, and spiked 
the guns, throwing 500 pounds of balls 
into the wells. John Butterick, Major 
of a minute regiment, approached the 
British with a company, when they 
fired, kiUing Capt. Isaac Uavis. . . . 381 
A skirmish ensued, and the British 
began a hasty retreat toward Boston. 
But the people, aroused by this bold 
act of the British, had assembled in 
arms, and pursued them, attacking 
them from every direction 381 

The British were reinforced at Lexing- 
ton by a detachment of 900 soldiers 
under Lord Piercy. Having two pieces 
of cannon, the colonists were kept at 
a greater distance, but they kept up a 
continual, but irregular fire, which did 
great execution 381 

The British reached Bunker's Hill at 
nightfall, and the next morning crossed 
Charlestown Ferry and returned to 
Boc>ton, with a loss of 93 men killed 



748 



CHRONOLOGY. 



and taken prisoners, and 185 wound- 
ed 381 

1775. The colonists had 50 killed and 28 
wounded and missing. There were 
never more than 400 of tlie Americans 
engaged at one time, and no discipline 
was observed among them 381 

" The Congress of Massachusetts calls upon 
the N. E. colonies for an army of 
30,000 men, Massachusetts pledging 
13,000 of the number 381 

" May. Gen. Gage is reinforced from 
Great Britain by a large body of sol- 
diers under Gens. Ilowe, Burgoyne, 
and Clinton 3S3 

" May 10. Ticondcroga and Crown Point 
were taken by Ethan Allen, aided by 
Col. Benedict Arnold and Col. Seth 
Warner 388 

" Col. Benedict iVrnold captured a British 
sloop of war. and gained command of 
Lake Champlaia 388 

" June 15. George Washington was ap- 
pointed commander-in-chief of the 
American army 3SC 

BATTLE OF BUNKEK HILL. 

" .Tune 17. Battle of Runker's Hill fought. 
The American Commanders order 1,000 
men to intrench on Bunker's Hill the 
night of the 16th. By mistake Breed's 
Hill was selected, and before morning 
a redoubt of eight rods square was 
thrown up 383 

The British began firing upon them 
at daylight from their vessels. At 
noon they landed a force of 3,000 
men under Gen. Howe, and marched 
toward Breed's Hill. They kept up a 
constant artillery fire, under which the 
Americans continued work on the 
trenchments 383 

The British set fire to Charlestown on 
their way, and the citizens of Boston 
and the surrounding country view the 
awful scene from every pinnacle and 
heisht, and the hill-topg are covered 
with thousands of anxious inhabit- 
ants 383 

The American forces engaged num- 
bered but 1,500. They reserved their 
fire till the enemy were within a few 
rods, when they poured such a tierce 
and incessant volley upon them, that 
they were forced to retreat in dis- 
order 383 

The British officers urged their sol- 
diers at the point of the sword, and 
as they approached the Americans 
again reserved fire, and when near 
sent a second volley with such terrible 
efiect, that they again retreated. . . 383 

The British made a third attack, 
bringing theu- cannon to bear upon 
the intrenchments. The fire from the 
ships, batteries, and artillery were re- 
doubled, and the intrenchments at- 
tacked upon three sides. 

The Americans, finding their powder 
nearly expended, ordered a retreat. 
The soldiers reluctantly obeyed, fight- 
ing with their gunstocks until the 
enemy had taken possession of the 
trenches 383 

The Britisli attempted to flank them, 
but were met with so much resistance 
that they desisted, and the Americans 
retreated to Prospect Hill, and pro- 
ceeded to fortify themselves. 

'1 he British retired to Bunker's Hill 
and prepared for defense. Their loss 
in this battle amounted to 1,054, among 



whom were 19 commiK.sioned officers, 
and 70 more wounded. 

The loss on ihe American side was 
ino killed, among them the brave Gen. 
Warren. The wounded and missing 
numbered 314. Tlic Americans lost 
five pieces of cannon. 
1775. July 1-2. Gen. AVashington took com- 
mand of the American Army at Cam- 
bridge. The combined forces num- 
bered but 14,000 men, unacquainted 
with military disoipbne, and destitute 
of everything which renders an army 
formidable 383 



GEX. MONTGOMERY. 
Gen. Montgomery, with a command of 
1,000 nien, attacks St. Johns, Canada, 
c.-jpturing the town and a large num- 
ber of cannon, field pieces, and small 
arms, taking (iOO prisoners 388 

At the same time Col. Ethan Allen 
was taken prisoner near Montreal. He 
was loaded with irons, and sent in that 
condition to England :;s8 

Montgomery matclii-l i-;m i .(,,Im:s 
to Montreal. The ];,. . - ; 1 ,:i his 
approach, but they \\<iv \:,\. r |„i ,„,- 
ers, with Gen. Prcscort, tiieir com- 
mander. Elfven vessels laden with 
provisions, ammunition, and intrer>ch 
ing tools were abo captured, together 
with large supplies of clothing 389 

Col. Benedict Arnold, wi'th 1,000 
men, succeeded in reaching Quebec by 
traversing the wilderness of Northern 
Maine and Canada, and sailing down 
the St. Lawrence 390 

He was reinforced by Montgomery, 
and they began a bombardment of the 
town. But their forces were too small, 
and the enemy were strongly forti- 
fied 391 

Gen. Jlontgomery was killed in the sec- 
ond attack, and Col. Arnold wounded 
and borne ofl' the field. After a des- 
perate resistance his detachment sur- 
rendered 30 1 

IIENKT MIDDLETON. 
Henry Middleton temporarily succeeded 
Peyton Randolph as President of the 
Continental Congress. He was son of 
the first royal Governor of South Caro- 
lina, and father of Arthur Middleton, 
one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence. He was a man of 
great wealth, but did not engjge much 
in public afl'airs. He remained a mem- 
ber of Congress until 1776, when he 
retired from public life. 

JOHN n.\XCOCK. 
May. John Hancock succeeded Peyton 
Randolph as President of Congress. 
He was the son of a Massachusetts 
clergyman, and was born in tliat prov- 
ince in 1737. He was educated at 
Harvard College, trained to mercantile 
business, and became a leading mer- 
chant of Boston. He was chosen to 
the seat of a representative in the As- 
sembly of Massachusetts in 176G, and 
became one of the popular loaders at 
the bc-lMi;l:M: ..: lii ■ i;- v.^lniinn. IL.. 

was a (li I'. ! , li. ' i I : .. li llirli!;d 

Congrr I , ■, I - , rn.l.rr ,,f 

that li.Hi, :i ,:| ■:,>, .,-.r, 1 : ; ;, Nvli.n 
ill health coiiip-lled him to leave it. 
He was President of Congress from 
May, 1775, until that time, and, as such, 



was the first to sign the Declaration of 
Independence. He was the first Gov- 
ernor of Massachusetts, when it be- 
came a State. Jlr. Hancock died on 
the 8th of October, 1793. 
i. A navy of 13 vessels ordered by Con- 
gress. 

Congress ordered the issuing of $5,000,- 
000, paper money. 

Benjamin Franklin appointed first Post- 
master-General. 
1. Jan. 1. Lord Dunmorc burns Norfolk, 

Va 3()4 

Col. St. Chiir marched, with a regi- 
ment of soldiers, from Pennsylvania to 
Canada during the extreme cold of a 
northern winter 391 

Marc'i. Silas Deane, of Conn., sent to 
France as Ambassador, and obtained 
arms,_ money, and cordial sympathy 
for hia country 437 

March 4. Washington fortifies and takes 
possession of Dorchester Heights. 

March 17. The British evacuated Bos- 
ton with 7,000 men, leaving their 
barracks standing, and stores to the 
amount of £30,000. They shortly 
sailed for H.alifax, leaving several 
ships behind laden with arms and 
camp stores, which the Americans 
captured and appropriated 30i; 

April. Washington removed his army to 
New York 308 

June. The Americans retreat from Que- 
bec. They make a stand at Three 
Liveis, and attack the jjlace, and are 
defeated 393 

June 7. Richard Henry Lee made the 
first motion in Congress for declaring 
the colonies free 4(17 

June 38. The British were defeated at 
Charleston, S. C, and their fleet <le- 
stroyed 393 

July 1. The British vessels under Gen. 
Howe return from Halifax and anchor 
off Sandy Hook. They are reinforced 
by ships from Great Britiiin 398 

INDEPENDENCE DECLARED. 

July 4. The Amorican colonies openly 
declare' thrir ill. 1. p. aolrnr,. and freedom 

from Biiii,li SMVorri.^^niv 407 

Eleven of the Ihirtri n States estab- 
lish a second branch of Legislature, 

calling it a Senate 409 

The States unitedly agree in appoint- 
ing for each a Governor, or head of 
each State 409 

The States agreed in deriving their powers 
of government from the people ; and 
in no case was the smallest title or 
power to be exercised from hereditary 
right 409 

All hereditary privileges and religious 
establishments were declared abolished, 
thereby destroying the alliance be- 
tween Church and State, and leveling 
all social distinctions 409 

BATTLE OF LOXO ISLAND. 

Aug. 27. The battle of Long Island was 

fought 4t)9 

The British forces were commanded 
by Gen. Clinton, assisted by Gens. 
Grant and De Heister, the latter com- 
manding a regiment of Hessians. . 400 

Gen. Washington, aided by Gen. Sullivan 
and Lord Sterling, had com lu.nd of 
the American troops. The first attack 
was made very early in the morning 
by the Hessians. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



749 



1776. The action was nvell-supported on 
both sides for several liours, but the 
superior numbers and discipline of the 
English, together with a large force 
which cut off the rear of the Americans, 
intercepted a retreat 401 

The Americans fled precipitately, 
and many of tliem were lost in the 
marshes. Their total loss amounted to 
over 1,000 men, including the wounded 
and prisoners ; among the latter were 
83 officers, including Gen. Sullivan and 
Lord Sterling 401 

Gen. Washington called a council of 
war, and it was determined to remove 
the army, the greater part of which he 
had phiced upon Long Island, to the 
city of New York. 

The wind being favorable, and a 
dense fog coming on, the troops were 
all removed during the nii;ht, before 
the enemy were auare of the move 
ment 401 



UNSUCCESSFUL MISSION. 

1776. Lord Howe sends General Su'livan on 
parole with a message to Congress, 
requesting an interview with a com- 
mittee of their members as "private 
citizens," he not having authority to 
recognize the American Congress, but 
declared that he was, with his brother, 
Gen. Howe, empowered to compromise 

the dispute between them 401 

Congress declined to send a commit- 
tee in a private capacity, but delegated 
Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Ed- 
ward Rutledge, to confer with Lord 

Howe in an official capacity 401 

They were received with great polite- 
ness, but Lord Howe failed to satisfy 
them that his authority extended 
farther than the power to " grant 
p.ardons" upon submission to English 
rule. B;it the colonies were not suing 
for pardon, nor were they willing to 
relinquish tlicir independence. . . . 401 
The British, preparatory to an attack 
on New York, landed their forces un- 
der cover of their ships of war. The 
American troops stationed near their 
landing became demorahzed, and re- 
treat in confusion 403 

A skirmish between the Highlanders 
under Brigadier Leslie, and a detach- 
ment of American soldiers under Col. 
Knowlton and Maj. Leitch, occurred 
the next day, in which the most of the 
men who had disgraced themselves 
were engaged, and through their 
bravery the enemy were reiJulsed, and 
a complete victory gained 402 

" Sept. 15. The Americans evacuated the 
city of New York and retired to the 
north end of the island 403 

« Sept. 16. Battle of Harlem Plains, N. Y. 
The British take immediate posses- 
sion of the city, and a few days after a 
disastrous fire consumed near 1,000 
houses 403 

" Oct. 38. The battle of White Plains was 
fought. 

" Nov. 10, 18. Ft^rt" Washington and Lee 
taken by the British. The garrison at 
Fort Lee was saved by evacuation, 
leaving their artillery and stores be- 
hind ; but at Fort Washington they 
surrendered with 3,700 men. The 
British lo-s amounted to 1,200. . . 402 

" Nov. and Dec. Gen. Washington and 
the American forces retreated through 



New Jersey, closely pursued by Gen, 
Cornwallis 402 

Dec. 26. Battle of Trenton, N. J. . . . 405 
The soldiers, becoming disheartened, 
clamored for a discharge, and those 
whose time had expired abandoned 
the army. Some of the leading men of 
New .lersey and Pennsylvania ally 
themselves to the British cause. 

Dec. Gen. Lee was taken prisoner nt 
Baskenbridge by Col. Harcourt . . . 403 
Congress convened in Baltimore, and 
resolved upon prosecuting the war, re- 
doubling their energies. Volunteers 
began to flock to the army from all 
departments of life 40:i 

Jesuits expelled from Paraguay, and com- 
pelled to leave their fine residences 
and splendid clmrches. 

Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres created. 

During this year Great Britain established 
the infamous prison-ship system. . 484 

Inhuman treatment of American prison- 
ets by the British, both in England and 
America 484 

Great Britain attempts to create discord 
among the colonies. 

Wool-carding machinery first made by 
Oliver Evans, of Boston. 

Jan. Washington encamps at Morris- 
town 411 

Jan. 3. Battle of Princeton. 

March 15. Vermont organized as a State. 

March 33. Destruction of stores at 
Peekskill. 

Apr. 26. Tryon destroys Danbury, Conn. 
A large amount of military stores were 
lost to the Americans 411 

May 23. Meig's expedition against Sag 
Harbor, Long Island. 

June. Burgoyne invades New York. 
" Burgoyne holds a council with 
the Indians. 

July 6. Evacuation of Ticonderoga by 
Gen. St. Clair 427 

Julv 7. Battle of Hubbardton ; White 
Hall taken. 

July 8. Battle of Fort Anne. 

ARRIVAL OF LAFAYETTE. 

July 31. Lafayette arrived from France 
with troops and supplies, and offered 
his services to the colonies 414 

July 10. Capture of General Prescott by 
the Americans. 

Aug. 16. Batt'e of Bennington fought by 
Gen. Starke 429 

Sept. 11. Battle of Brandywine under 
Gen. Washington. Gens. Lafayette and 
Woodford were wounded 413 

Sept. 19. Battle of Stillwater 430 

" 36. British troops under Sir Wm. 
Howe enter Philadelphia 427 

Oct. 6. Capture of Forts Clinton and 
Jlontgomery on the Hudson. 

Oct. 14. Battle of Germantown 424 

" 7. Battle of Saratoga 4 3 

" 17. Surrender of Burgoyne to Maj. - 
Gen. Gates at Saratoga 433 

HENET LAURENS. 
Nov. Henry Latirens succeeded Han- 
cock as President of the C(mtinental 
Congress. He was a delegate from 
S(mth Carolina; was an active patriot, 
nnd had been prominent in public 
affairs in his province and State for 
some time. He occupied the Presiden- 
tial chair for little more than a year. 
In 17!S0 he was sent to negotiate a 
treaty with Holland. He was captured 



on the sea, taken to England, and im- 
prisoned until the close of 1781. He 
was one of the signers of the prelimi- 
naries of peace in 1783. Mr. Laurens 
died .at Charleston, S. C, on the 8th of 
December, 1793, at the age of 69 year^. 

Nov. 15. Articles of Confederation 
adopted by Congress and ratified by 
all the States. 

Nov. 10, 18. British capture Forts Mifflin 
and Mercer on the Delaware. 

SinPFEEING AT VALLEY FOEGE. 

Dec. 8. Washington and his army en- 
camped on the Valley Forge. Desti- 
tute of sufficient clothing and food, the 
army suffered incredible hardships in 
the midst of a rigorous winter. . . . 426 

JOHN JAY. 

John Jay succeeded Mr. Laurens as Presi- 
dent of Congress. At that time he was 
Chief Justice of the State of New York, 
which was his native State. He was 
born in Dec, 1745, educated at King's 
(now Columbia) College, and at an 
early age became distinguished as a 
lawyer. He was a member of the First 
Continental Congress, and was author 
of one of the able State papers put forth 
by that body. In succeeding Con- 
gresses, his pen was ever busy. He 
was sent as Minister to Spain in 1779, 
and was one of the commissioners for 
negotiating peace with Great Britain. 
In 1784 he was appointed Secretary of 
State for Foreign Affairs, and three 
years later, assisted in the formation of 
the National Constituti(m. Washing- 
ton appointed him Chief Justice of the 
United States. He became Governor 
of New York after returning from an 
embassy to England in 1795. He with- 
drew from public life in 1801, and 
died in May, 1829, at the age of 84 
years. 

Jan. 5. Capt. Cook explored the coast 
of Alaska. 

A YANKEE DEVICE. 

" Battle of the Kegs."' A contrivance of 
the Americans to destroy the British 
fleet. It was composed of a large 
number of little machines resembling 
kegs, containing explosive materials 
which they thought Would set the Brit- 
ish shipiMng on fire. The British were 
very much astonished at their appear- 
ance, and called out their forces to 
meet their new and mysterious enemy. 
It resulted in little harm to the fleet, 
but much consternation to the British, 
which caused great meiTiment to the 
Americans. 

Bills were passed by the British Parlia- 
ment granting all "that the colonies had 
asked, but Coagress rejected their 
offers. 

Franklin, Dean, and Lee, sent as Com- 
missioners to the Court of France. 435 

The British loss, up to this date, amount- 
ed to 20,000 men and 550 vessels. 

Treaty of commerce and alliance with 
France 434 

Feb. 6. France acknowledges the inde- 
pendence of the United States 484 

W.iich. Lord Norths conciliatory bill 
passed by Parliament. 

March 1. $1 in specie exchanged for 



750 



CERONOLOGY. 



$1.75 in paper money ; Sept. 1, for $t; 
177i), March 1, or$10; Sept. 1, for $18 ; 
17«0, March IS, for $40; Dec. 1, for 
§100 ; and 1781, May 1, for from $300 
to $500. 

1778. March 7. Death of Nicholas Biddlc— 

killed ill naval action — Biograpliy on 
page 4-l'l. 

A KIDICULOnS AFFAIIJ. 

" May 7. "The Mischianza," a magnifi- 
cent fete, given in PliiladelpUia by the 
Britisli field officers and the Tories, in 
honor of Lord Howe, upon bis depart- 
ure for England. It was a very extrav- 
agant, and, considering the circum- 
stance of war and its terrible concoaii- 
tants, with the American army sutfi-ring 
every hardsbip possible, a very ridicu- 
lous affair, and which Ijrought great 
and lasting repioach upon the Ameri- 
cans who participated. 

" June 18. British evacuated Philadel- 
phia 441 

" June 28. Battle of MonmouUi 440 

" July 3, 4. Massacre at Wyoming. Over 
1,000 Indians and Tories fell upon the 
inhabitants, and cruelly put to death 
the greater part of them, destroying 
everything in their savage fury. . . 455 

" July 11. Arrival of a French fleet under 
Coimt D'Estaiug 441 

'' Aug. 30. General Sullivan retreats from 
Rhode Island 443 

" Nov. 10. Massacre at Cherry Valley, 
N. Y., by the Indians 456 

" Dec. 39. Savannah taken by the 
British 451 

1779. Jan. 9. Capture of Sunbury, Ga., by the 

British. 
" Fcl). 14. Battle of Kettle Creek, Ga. 

Mar. 3. Battle of Briar Creek, Ga. . 451 
" Mar. 3. Norfolk taken by the British. 447 
" May 81. Capture of Stony Point, N. Y., 

by the British. 
" June 1. Capture of Verplanck's Point, 

N. Y., by the British. 
" June 10. War between England and 

Spain. 

" June 30. Battle of Stono Ferry 451 

" July 5, 7, 8. Fairfield and Norwalk, 

Conn., burned by the British 411 

" July 5-12. Tryon's raid into Connecticut. 
" July 16. Storming of Stony Point by 

Americans under Gen. Wayne. . . . 449 
" July It}, llecaptiire of Stony Point by 

the Americans. 
" July and August. Sullivan's expedition 

against the Indians on the Susquehan- 
na 459 

" Aug. 13. Castine, Me., captured by the 

British. 
" Aug. 19. Capture of British garrison 

at Paulus' Hook, N. J. 
" Aug. and Sept. Sullivan's chastisement 

of the Indians in Western N. Y. 
" Sept. Siege of Savannah, Ga., by the 

Americans and French. 

JOXES' NATAL VICTORY. 
" Sept. 3. Paul Jones' great naval victory 
oflf_ the coast of Yorkshire, England. 
This was the first American naval vic- 
tory, and was the most sanguinary 
battle ever fought between two ships. 
Paul Jones was commander of a squad- 
ron of 5 ships. The Bon Homme 
Itichard, his own ship — an old and 
clumsy vessel of 42 guns — engaged a 
British man-of-war, the Serapis, a 
ijew ship of 50 guns, commanded by 



Commodore Richard Pearson, and 
manned by .'120 picked men. A des- 
perate fight ensued. The S'lapis 
swung around, by the force of the 
wind, square alongside of the Boii 
Homme Richard, and their yards being 
entangled, Jones lashed the two ships 
together. Then began the most fear- 
ful encounter recorded in naval his- 
tory. The cannon of each ship touch- 
ing, and amid their incessant war and 
crashing of falling masts, both vessels 
took fire. At this terrible crisis, the 
Captain of the Alliance, one of Junes' 
squadron, began firing broadsides 
into the stern of the Bo7i Homme 
Richard, causing her to leak at a fear- 
ful rate. This dastardly and traitorous 
act was caused by personal hatred to- 
ward his superior commander. The 
fire increasing in the ship, Jones' oflB- 
cers persuaded him to strike his colors, 
but he refused to yield, and soon the 
Beniyis surrendered. 

SAMUEL HUNTrnGTON. 

Sept. 28. Samuel Huntington succeeded 
Mr. Jay, as President of Congress. Me 
was born in Connecticut, in 17:52. He 
was a lawyer by profession, and repre- 
sented his district in the Colonial 
Legislature in 1704, and became the 
King's attorney the following year. 
He was chosen a delegate of the Sec- 
ond Continental Congress in 1775, and 
remained a member of that body until 
1781. In 1784 he was appointed Chief 
Justice of Connecticut, and two years 
later was elected Governor of that 
State. He continued in that oflice 
until his death, in Jan., 1790, when he 
was 63 years of age. 

Oct. 9. Siege of Savannah abandon- 
ed 451 

Dec. Coal first used in America by some 
Pennsylvania blacksmiths. 

General war upon the Indians prosecuted 
under Gens. Sullivan and Clinton, and 
Cols. Butler, Clark, and Van Shaick. 450 

Death of Patrick Henry, aged 03. 

THOMAS MCKEAN. 

Thomas McKean represented the little 
State of Delaware in the first Conti- 
nental Congress, and became President 
of its successor on the retirement of 
Mr. Huntington. He was born in 
March, 1734, and was educated for the 
practice of the law. He represented 
the New Castle district in the Legis- 
lature of Delaware, in 1702, and in 
1765 he was a delegate in the Stamp 
Act Congress in New York. He en- 
tered the Continental Congress as 
delegate in 1774, and served in that 
capacity until 1783, holding much of 
that time the office of Chief Justice 
of Delaware. He was elected Governor 
of Delaware in 1799, and held that 
office until 1808, when he retired from 
public life. 
Feb. 0. Congress calls for 35,000 men. 404 
April 14. Battle of Monk's Corner. . 458 
May 6. Battle on Santee River. 
April-May. Charleston, S. C, besieged 

by the British. 
May 13. Surrender of Gen. Lincoln and 
American army at Charleston, S. C, to 
Gen. Clinton 458 



NOTABLE DAEK DAY. 

May 19. Notable dark day in New En- 
gland. A dense and mysterious dark- 
ness covered the land, continuing from 
twelve to fifteen hours, filling all 
hearts with wonder, and multitudes 
with fear and consternation, — the 
superstitious regarding it as the "day 
of doom," and the learned and scien- 
tific wholly unprepared to account for 
the wonderful phenomenon. The dark- 
ness at midday was so dense that 
people were unable to read common 
])rint, or determine the time of day by 
clocks or watches, and at night, al- 
though at the full of the moon, the 
darkness was so impenetrably thick 
that traveling was impracticable with- 
out lights, and a sheet of white paper 
was equally invisible with the black- 
est velvet. The atmosphere seemed 
charged with a thick, oily, sulphurous 
vapor, and streams of water were 
covered with a thick scum, and paper 
dipped in it, and dried, appeared of 
a dark color, and felt as if it had been 
rubbed with oil. 

June 23. Battle at Springfield, N. J. 

July 12. Arrival at Rhode Island of the 
French fleet and army, under Admiral 
de Ternay and Coijnt de Rocham- 
beau 465 

July 30. Battle at Rocky Mount, S. C. 

Aug. 0. Battle at Hanging Rock, S. C. 

Aug. 16. Battle of Sanders' Creek, near 
Camden. Gates defeated 400 

Aug. 18. Defeat of Sumpter at Fishing 
Creek. 

TEEASON OF AENOLD. 

Sejjt. 23. Treason of Benedict Arnoldi 
and arrest of Maj. Andre. 

Maj.-<!i iicral Hi'iiedict Arnold was 
an ofllcir ..fhiu'li r.iiik, and had been 
greatly ailniirod \\>r his bravery and 
uncomplaining fortitude and endur- 
ance during the first years of the war. 
He had been promoted from the office 
of Captain to that otMaj.-General, but, 
being of a proud and haughty nature, 
and exceedingly ambitious, his envy at 
seeing others rank above him, laid the 
foundation of his treachery and treason, 
which finally culminated in the betrayal 
of his country to its enemies. He had 
been stationed in Philadelphia while 
unfitted for service from wounds re- 
ceived in a battle near Stillwater, and 
while there his reckless extravagance 
caused his censure by Congress, and 
a trial by court-martial and reprimand 
from the Commander-in-chief of the 
army, which was approved by Congress. 
This disgrace was more than his proud, 
imperative nature could brook, and he 
immediately began plotting to betray 
his country. His correspondence with 
the British commander. Sir Henry 
Clinton, was conducted through Maj. 
Andre, an officer, of great distinction 
and merit, in the British army. He 
was captured upon his return from an 
interview with Arnold, within the 
American lines, by three privates, who 
searched his person and discovered the 
treasonable documents in his boots. 
Arnold learned of the capture of Andr6, 
and succeeded in making his escape 
but a short time before the arrival of 
Gen. Washington, who had appointed 
to breakfast with him. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



751 



1782. 



iijVnging of major andee. 

Oct. 2. MaJ. Andre was hung after a 
trial by court-martial, upou the un 
questioned evidence of his guilt. Great 
sympathy was manifested by both 
friends and enemies for Maj. Andro, 
but the inexorable demands and usage 
of war, and the safety of the country, 
necessitated his execution as a spy. 

For full biography of 3Iaj. AndrC, 
see page 465. 

Oit. 7. Battle of King's Mountain.. 403 

Nov. 20. Battle of Blackstock 402 

Dec. 3. Greene takes command of the 
Southern army 473 

Dec. 30. War between England and 
Holland 469 

Dec. 80. National Thanksgiving.. . 4S3 

Jan. 1. Revolt of Pennsylvania troops 
at Morristown 470 

Bank of North America established at 
Philadelphia. 

Expedition of the British into Virginia 
under Benedict Arnold 473 

Ja.i. 17. Battle of the Cowpens 478 

" 10. Cornwallis joined by Leslie at 
Charleston 474 

reb. 3. Battle of McGowan's Ford . 474 
'■ 16. Battle of Guilford's Court- 
house 473 

Jan. aod Feb. Remarkable retreat of 
(ieu. Greene through South Caro- 
lina 474 

Aj)ril 33. Surrender of Fort Watson to 
Gens. Marion and Lee 470 

April 3.5. Battle of Ilobkirk's Hill. 476 

May 9. Surrender of Pensacola. 

" 10. Camden evacuated 476 

" 13. Fort Schuyler (Utica) destroyed 
by lire. 

May 13. Fort Mott taken 47G 

'• 15. Bri.ish abandon Nelion's Fer- 
ry 477 

Juue 6. Augusta, Ga , capitulates. . 477 
" lS-19. Siege of Ninety-Six, S.C. 

July 6. Battle of Green Spring. 

Aug. 3. Arrival of the French fleet under 
De Grasse 470 

Aug. 14. American and French allied 
army march from the Hudson, near 
New York, to Virginia. Cornwallis 
hemmed in at Yorktown 481 

Sept. 6. Burning of New London by 
I3enedict Arnold 482 

Massacre at Fort Griswold, Conn. 

Sept. 8. Batdc of Eutaw Springs; a 
splendid victory under Gen. Greene. 477 

Oct. 6. Bombardment of Yorktown. 481 
" 19. Surrender of Corn walHs at Y'ork- 
town. Gen. Lincoln appointed by 
\Vashingt(m to receive his sword. 481 

Oct. 24. Indian battle at Johnstown. 

National thanksgiving proclaimed. 

JOHN HANSON. 

Nov. 5. John Hanson was chosen suc- 
cessor to Mr. McKean. This gentle- 
man does not appear conspicuously in 
public records until his election to 
Congress in 1781, as a representative 
of Maryland. He entered tliat body in 
the summer, and became an active and 
able member. He held that othcc 
precisely one year, when he left Con- 
gress. Mr. Hanson died in Prince 
George's County, Md., in Nov., 1783. 

Watts invented the rotative engine. 

FIRST STEAJIBOAT. 

First boat propelled by steam was placed 
upon the Potomac River, by James 



Rumsey, a Bohemian, which was seen 
and certified to by Wiishington. 

32. Pel). 6. Resolutions passed in the House 
of Commons in favor of peace. 

• April 17. Holland acknowledges the in- 
dejjendence of the United States, 
and a treaty of amity and commerce 
secured through negotiations of John 
Adams 488 



LAST BATTLE OF THE EEVOLrxiON. 

1783. Juno 24. Last battle of the Revolution- 
ary War — a skirmish near Savannah, 
and some slight skirmishes in South 
Carolina, in one of which the gallant 
young Col. John Laurens lost his 
life. 

" July 11. Savannah, Ga., evacuated by 
the British. 

" Aug. War closed between the United 
M.ates and Great I^iritain. 

" Nov. 30. Prelin'inaries of peace between 
the United States and Great Britain 
signed at Piu-is 489 



ELIAS BOCDINOT. 

'' Nov. 4. Elias Boudinot succeeded Mr. 
Hanson as President of Congress. He 
was a descendant of the Huguenots, 
anil a native of New Jersey, and was a 
lawyer by profession. He took an 
active part as a patriot in the Revolu- 
tion. 

In 1777, the Congress appointed him 
coumiissary-general of prisoners, and 
he was elected to a seat in that body 
the same year, where he remained until 
1783. He was for six years [1789-1795] 
a representative of New Jersey in the 
Congress of the United States, and was 
a])poinleil Chief Director of the Mint in 
1790. He was one of the founders of 
the American Bible Society in 1816, 
and was ever usefully employed. Mr. 
Boudinot died in Oct., Is21, aged 81 
years. 

" Dec. 14. Charleston, S. C, evacuated by 
the British. 

LOBS DtJKING THE REVOLUTION. 

1783. Seventy thousand men estimated to have 
been lost diu'ing the Revolutionary 
War. 

" Oliver Evans introduced first improved 
grain mill. 

" Fur-trading established in Alaska. 

" Jan. 30. Preliminary treaties between 
France, Spain, and Great Britain, 
signed at Versailles. 

" Feb. 5. Independence of United States 
acknowledged by Sweden. 

" Feb. 35. Independence of United States 
recognized by Denmark. 

" March 24. Independence of United 
States acknowledged by Spain. 

" April 11. Peace iiroclaimed by Congress. 

" " 19. Peace announced by Washing- 
ton to the army 494 

" July. Independence of United States 
r(!Coguized by Russia. 

" Sept. 3. Defensive treaties of peace be- 
tween EngUuul and the United States, 
France, Spain, and Holland. 

" Oct. 18. Proclamation for disbanding 
the army. 

" Nov. 2. Washington's farewell orders. 494 

THOMAS MIFFLIN. 

" Nov. 3. Thomas Mifflin succeeded Mr. 
Boudinot. He was a native of Pennsyl- 



vania, where he was born, of Quaker 
parents, in 1714. He was an active 
patriot, and entered the Continental 
army at the close of the First Congress, 
of which he was a member. He arose 
to the rank of General, and served his 
country well during the war. As the 
President of Congress, he received 
Washington's commission, when he re- 
signed it, in Dec, 1783. Gen. Mifflin 
assisted in the construction of the 
National Constitution. In 1790 he was 
chosen Governor of Pennsylvania, and 
held the oliice nine years. He died in 
January, 1800, at the age of 56 years. 

Nov. 25. New Y'ork evacuated by the 
British 494 

Dec. 33. Washington resigns his com- 
mission 495 

Great distress prevailed in the United 
States owing to scarcity of money. 

Treaty of peace with the Six Nations at 
Fort Schuyler. 

First agricultural society in the United 
States at Philadelphia. 

Methodist Church organized by Bishop 
Coke. 

Feb. First voyage made from China to 
New Y'ork. 

RICHARD HENRY LEE. 

Nov. 30. Richard Henry Lee was chosen 
President of Congress, as successor to 
tien. Mifflin. He first appeared con- 
spicuously in public hfe during the 
Stamp Act excitement. In the First 
Continental Congress he was an active 
member; and, in 1776, he submitted 
the immortal resolulicra which declared 
the colonies to be "free and independ- 
ent States." He withdrew from Con- 
gress in 1778, but was re-elected in 
1784. He was the first representative 
of Virginia in the Senate of the United 
States under the National Constitution. 
He died in June, 1794, at the age of 03 
years. 

Commercial treaties between United 
States and Prussia, Denmark, and 
Portugal. 

Thomas JeflFerson sent as Minister to 
France. 

John Adams Minister to London. He 
was the first ambassador from the 
United States to Great Britain. 

Copper cents first issued from a mint at 
Rupert, Vt. 

Financial embarrassment threatens the 
peace of the country. 

Death of Gen. Greene. For ftill biogra- 
phy see page 472. 

First cotton mill in the United States 
built at Beverly, Mass. 

NATHANIEL GORHAM. 

June G. Nathaniel Gorham succeeded 
Mr. Lee. He was born in Massachusetts 
in 1738, and was often a memlicr of the 
Legislature of that Commonwealth. 
During the Revolution he was an 
active, though not very prominent, 
])atriot. He was elected to Congress 
in 1784 ; and, after he left that body, 
became a Judge, and was a delegate in 
the convention that framed the National 
Constitution. He died in June, 1796, 
at the age of 58 years. 

BHAy's REBELLION. 

Dec. Shay's rebellion in Massachusetts. 

After the war there occurred a scries 



752 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1786. of outbreaks against tbe Government, 
which were caused by the impoverished 
condition of the country, and the feel- 
ing of discontent and dissatisfaction 
of the soldiers, who as yet had received 
iittle toward satisfying their claims, 
and also, as a consequent result of war, 
by a demoralizing influence which was 
ready to be kindled into a finme by 
every appeal to jjassion or selfishness. 

A rebellion was organized under 
the command of Daniel Shay, Luke 
Day, and Eli Parsons, which attempted 
the overthrow of law and order, and 
the establishment of mob force. They 
proceeded to march upon Springfield, 
and prevent the sitting of court, and, 
if possible, seize the arsenal. But 
Governor Bowdoin summoned the 
militia, numbering over four thousaud, 
imder command of Gen. Lincoln, and 
by prompt and decisive measures it 
was quickly suppressed. 

AETHt7R ST. CLAIR. 

1787. Feb. 33. Arthur St. Clair was chosen 

President of Congress as successor of 
Mr. Gorham. This soldier of the Revo- 
lution was born in Edinburg, Scotland, 
in 1734, came to America with Admiral 
Boscawen, in 1755. He served under 
Wolfe in Canada, and after the peace 
of 1763, was appointed to the command 
of a flirt in Pennsylvania. lie entered 
the Continental army as Colonel in 1776, 
and in August of that year he was ap- 
pointed a Brigadier-General. He was a 
faithful officer, with the rank of Major- 
General throughout the war. He was 
elected to represent a district of Penn- 
sylvania, in Congress, in 1786. In 1788 
he was appointed Governor of the 
Northwestern Territory, and held the 
office till 1802. He died in August, 
1818, at the age of 84 years. 

" May to Sept. Convention held in Phila- 
delphia of the States to form a Federal 
Constitution 446 

" Organization of the Northwestern Terri- 
tory. 

" Sept. 28. The Constitution as it now 
stands, minus the amendments since 
added, was laid before the Continental 
Congress, which sent it to the several 
States for approval. 

CYEU8 ePvIFFlN. 

1788. Cyrus Griffin was chosen President, and, 

under the provisions of the National 
Constitution, he was appointed a Judge 
of the U. S. District Court in Virginia. 
He was the last of the Presidents of 
the Continental Congress. He was a 
native of England, but, for many years 
previous to the Revolution, a resident 
of Virginia. He was a firm patriot 
during that struggle. In 1778 he was 
elected a delegate to the Continental 
Congre=s ; and nine years afterward, 
he was again honored with a seat in 
that body. Mr. Griffin died at York- 
town, Va., in December, 1810, at the 
age of 62 years. The Continental Con- 
gress ceased to exist in the spring of 
1789, when the National Government, 
under the new Constitution, com- 
menced its career. 
" First raining done in the lead mines of 
Iowa, by Julius Dubnque, on the site 
of the present city of that name. 



INVENTION OF mON BRIDGES. 

i. Iron bridges invented by Thom.as Paine, 
the author of " Coniniou Sense" and 
" Age of Reason." lie ni:iili' :i model 
for an in ra Iiriilu<- In lir Imili ,,.rrtlie 
Schuylkill, wilh u >\u-ir au h nf ir.m 
of 400 feet span. 'J'lie idea w us sug- 
gested to his mind by observing the 
construction of a spider's web. 

FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL CONGRESS. 
I. Mar. 4. First Congress under the Na- 
tional Constitution assembled at New 
York. 
Mackenzie, in the employment of the 
Northwestern Pur C^ompany, made 
an overland journey to the great polar 
river pamed fur hira, which empties 
into the J^rctic Sea. 
Aug. 23. John Fitch exhibited a loat 
on the SchuylMll, at Philadelphia, pro- 
pelled hy steam, and afterward a Stock 
Company was formed, which built a 
steam packet that ran till the company 
failed in 1790. 



THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN STATES. 
When the National Government was es- 
tablished, the number of the States 
were thirteen, viz.: New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connec- 
ticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
Georgia. 
Congress passed first tariff bill. The de- 
l^artments of State, War, and Treasury 
created. 



THE FIRST PRESIDENT. 

" Apr. 30. Inauguration of Geo. Washing- 
ton as President, and John Adams as 
Vice-President 496 

" Nov. North Carolina adopted the Con- 
stitution. Ten amendments were add- 
ed to the Constitution by Congress. 
The Judicial system established. 

" John Carroll the first Catholic Bishop in 
the United States. 

" First Temperance Society formed in the 
United Slates by 200 farmers in Litch- 
field County, Connecticut. 
?90. District of Columbia ceded to Maryland 
by Virginia. 

" Laws passed — ordering a census to be 
taken ; to provide for payment of for- 
eign debts ; naturalization law; patent 
law ; copyright law ; law defining trea- 
son and piracy : penalty for both, hang- 
ing; status of the slavery question 
settled; State debts, etc. 

" Congress removed to Philadelphia. 

" District of Columbia ceded to the United 
States by Maryland, for the location of 
the National Government. 

'' Rhode Island accepted the Constitution. 

" Oct. 17-22. Harmer defeated by the In- 
dians on the Maumee in Indiana, near 
Fort Wayne. Gen. Harmer, with a 
force of 1453 men, attacked the In- 
dians with small detachments of his 
force, and was twice defeated with 
great loss. 

" First rolling mill introduced into the 
U.S. 

DEATH OF FRANKLIN. 

" Apr. 17. Death of Rcnjainiu Franklin. 
Biography on page 433. 



DEATH OF PUTNAM. 
May 29. Death of Maj.-Gen. Israel 
Putnam, at Brookline, Conn., aged 73 
years. Gen. Putnam, although an il- 
iiteralc man and a backwoodsman, was 
one of the liravest and most truly pa- 
trioiic Generals in the American army. 
For a full biography of Gen. Putnam, 
see page 448 of this book. 

FIRST CENSUS. 

First census taken — population 4,000,000. 

Samuel Slater, the father of cotton manu- 
facturing in the United States, set up 
first machinery for spinning cotton. 

United States JBunk chartered by Con- 
gress with a capital of $10,000,000; 
stock all taken the tirst day. 

Congress laid a tax on whisky — the first 
internal taxation to raise money in tho 
United States. 

First patent issued for threshing-ma- 
chines. 

March 4. Vermont admitted into the 
Union. 

Gen. Wayne appointed Commander in- 
chief of the American f )rces 498 

Vermont adopted the Constitution. 

Canada divided into Upper and Lower, 
or afterward. East and West Canada. 

Civil war raged in Hayti, during which 
England conquered the Western Coast 
districts. 

ST. Clair's defeat. 

Nov. 4. St. Clair's defeat by the Indians. 
While encamped with his whole army, 
2,000 strong, upon a stream tributary 
to the Wabash, he was surprised early 
in the morning by a large force of In- 
dians, under the chief " Little Turtle." 
The surprise was so complete, the 
troops having just been dismissed from 
parade, and General St. Clair not being 
able to mount his hoise, that the militia, 
who were first attacked, fled in utter 
confusion, and rushed into camp, 
throwing the regular troops into dis- 
order. Col. Darke, who commanded 
the left wing, made an impetuous 
charge upon the enemy, and forced 
them from their ground with some 
loss, but the want of a sufficient num- 
ber of riflemen deprived him of its 
benefit. The Indians, renewing the 
attack, broke the right wing, and killed 
the artillerists almost to a man, and 
isenetrated the camp. Another bayonet 
charge was made, driving the Indians 
from the camp, and a retreat was then 
ordered, to save the remnant of the 
army, and a panic ensued, the soldiers 
fleeing in dismay to Fort Jefferson, 
some thirty miles away. The Indians 
pursued them about four miles with 
great fury, scalping and massacring 
the captured and wounded without 
mercy, and their eagerness for plunder 
jjrevented the destruction of the com- 
mand. Nearly one-half of the army 
were slaughtered, being the greatest 
defeat of American arms by the In- 
dians 489 

Kentucky admitted into the Union. 

Law passed for establishing a mint. 

Congress passed an act apportioning rep- 
resentatives under the new census, 
which gave Congress 105 members. 

Great opposition to the tax on whisky. 

May 7. Cajit. Gray, commander of the 



CHRONOLOGY. 



753 



American ship Columbia, discovered 
the Columbia River, naming it after 
his ship. 

Academy for the education of girls open- 
ed at Litchfield, Conn., by Miss Prime. 

First daily paper established. 

Insurance Company of North America 
established in Philadelphia. 

Oldest canals in the United States dug 
around the rapids in the Connecticut 
River, at South Hadley and Montague 
Falls. 

Washington inaugurated the second time 
as President, with John Adams again 
as Vice-President. 

Fugitive Slave Law passed. 

John Hancock and Koger Sherman die. 

INVENTION OF THE COTTON GIN. 
Cotton gin invented by Whitney. A 
machine for separating seeds from cot- 
ton ; an invention which revolution- 
ized the cotton trade, and which added 
more to the wealth and commercial 
importance of the United States th;in 
any other invention or enterprise could 
have done at that time. 

YELLOW FEVER. 

Telhiio FfviT Jint visited the United 
Stiitc.^ at I'hiiadelpUa. 

France declared all the inhabitants of 
llayti free and equal, and appointed 
Toiiis-aut rOverture, a colored man. 
commander of the army, which was 
composed of blacks. lie succeeded in 
expelling the Spaniards and English, 
and order was once more restored. 

Automatic signal telegraph introduced 
and applied in New York. 

Steam first applied to sawmills in Penn- 
sylvania, by Gen. Bentham. 

President's salary fixed at !j;35,000. 

■WHISKY EEBELLION. 

. Great whisky rebellion in Western 
Pennsylvania, caused by the tax levied 
upon whisky. A large district in 
Pennsylvania, where the crops of grain 
were over-abundant, and no dequate 
m.arket except the great Monongahela 
distillers, openly resisted the tax by 
resorting to mob law. Officials an ' 
loyal citizens were whipped, branded, 
tarred and feathered, and great excite 
ment prevailed in all the Northern 
States. The Union was imperiled, 
and Washington headed an army to 
meet the crisis. The rebellion was 
soon suppressed, and law and order 

established 498 

First woolen factories and carding-ma- 
chines established in Massachusetts. 

wayne's GKEAT TIOTOEY'. 
Aug. Wayne's great victory over the 
Indians, under ''Little Turtle." Gen. 
Anthony Wayne, or "Mad Anthony," 
as he was caUed, on account of his reck- 
less courage, attacked the Indians upon 
the Maumee, in Ohio, and through 
his determined and impetuous charge, 
he routed the whole Indian force 
from their favorite fighting ground, 
and drove tlicm more than two 
miles through thick woods and fallen 
timber in the course of one hour, caus- 
ing them to sue for peace on tlie con- 
queror's own terms. The^ confederacy 
was completely annihilated 408 



794. Act passed for building ships of war, 

which laid the foundation for the jires- 

ent navy system. 
" Eleventh amendment to the Constitution 

passed. 
" American vessels were iirohibited from 

supplying slaves to any other nation. 
" First sewing thread ever made from cot- 
ton produced at Pawtuckct, Rhode 

Island. 
" Treaty of navigation and commerce with 

Great Britain. 

795. Spain ceded her part of Ilayti to France. 
" Treaty of peace with Algiers. 

" Treaty of peace secured with the Indian.? 
at Greenville 498 

" Great opposition to the treaty with 
Great Britain. War imminent, but the 
great firmness and decision of Wash- 
ington averts it 499 

" First large American glass factory built 
at Pittsburg. 

796. Tennessee admitted into the Union. 50+ 
" John Adams and Tlios. Jetferson elected 

President and Vice-President .500 

" Orplian Asylum chartered in Charles- 
ton, South Carolina. 

" Dec. 7. Washington's last speech to 

Congress, declining further oflice. . 500 

.797. Mar. 4. Inauguration of John Adams as 

President 500 

" Congress enacted stringent laws against 
privateering. 

" No peaceful nations were to be inter- 
rupted by privateering, under penalty 
of Sli',OuO fine and 10 years imprison- 
ment. 

UNITED STATES AND FRANCE. 

" France, incensed at the neutrality of the 
United States in their war with En- 
gland, banished their minister (Mr. 
Pinckney) from Paris 503 

" The treaty of alliance with France re 
voked by Congress, and authority 
given for capturing armed French ves- 
sels 505 

" Provisions made for raising a small regu 
lar army 503 

FIRST CAST-IKON PLOW. 

" First cast-iron plow patented by New 
bold of New Jersey. The patentC' 
expended $:?0,000 in perfecting aud 
introducing the plow, and the farmer; 
refused to use it, alleging that it poi 
soned the land and promoted tlu 
growth of rocks ! 

" First American cutlery works at Green- 
field, Mass. 

" Commercial Advertiser established in 
New York. 

1798. A direct tax and additional internal 

revenues were laid 503 

" Navy department created and a number 
of war vessels ordered to sea, in ex- 
pectation of war with France 5i)3 

" Washington appointed Commander-in- 
Chief of the army, by President 
Adams 503 

THE "STATE'S KIGUTS THEORY." 

" Congress passed alien and sedition laws, 
which called out the first expression 
of the " State's Rights Theory." 

1799. Naval engagement between American 

and French ships of war. America 
victorious, and terms of peace are se- 
cured 503 



First teachers' association, called the 
Midleses Co. A,s3ociation, for the im- 
provement of common schools, com- 
posed mostly of teachers. 

Russian-American Fur Company organ- 
ized. 

GEOKliE WASHINGTON. 

Dec. 14. George Washington, the first 
President of the United States, died 
at Mt. Vernon, Va. He was born in 
the colony of Virginia in 1733. When 
a little more than ten years of age, his 
father died, and his education and 
care devolved upon his mother, who 
was a very superior woman. At the 
age of IG he was a good surveyor, and 
was employed by Lord Fairfax to sur- 
vey a large tract of country in the 
wilds of Virginia. Here he became 
inured to hardships and familiar with 
the Indians, their customs and charac- 
ter, which prepared him for the active 
and prominent part he was destined to 
act in the subsequent wars with them. 
At the age of 19 he was a Major in the 
Colonial Army which was raised to sub- 
duo the hcstile Indians. At the age of 
20 he was sent by the Governor of Vir- 
ginia as commissioner to the French 
Commander, stationed upon the banks 
of the Ohio, a distance of 500 miles 
from the settlements, w hich lay through 
an unliroken and dense forest, trav- 
ersed by roaming bands of savages, 
littlo superior to the wild beasts in 
native ferocity. Upon his return from 
this expedition, his life was attempted 
by an Indian who was sent upon his 
trail by the treacherous French, who 
were plotting the usurpation of the 
country, and who had enlisted the sav- 
ages in their terrible warfare against 
tlie colonies. At 33 years of age he 
was appointed a Colonel, and placed in 
command of a regiment of 400 men, 
to march against the French, and drivo 
them from the State of Ohio. This 
was the beginning of a terrible and 
bloody carnage, lasting three years, the 
details of which the faithful historians 
of our country have given us. Upon the 
close of these terrible scenes, Washing- 
tnn settled down upon the " Mt. Ver- 
non " estate, which had descended to 
him— a si)lcndid tract of 8,000 acres, 
4,1100 of which were under cultivation. 
His wife brought with her a dower of 
^100,000, and Washington was one of 
the wealthiest men of the Virginia 
colonies. His life and habits were 
singularly pure and simple, and his 
character was unmarred by a single 
stain. At the beginning of the Revo- 
lution, Washington was chosen Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the American army, 
and the nolile part he bore, and the 
gn-at military ,t;inius he displayed is 
aliundantly leecirded in the annals of 
American History, and also through 
the tables of his battles and victories 
given in the pages of this work. Suf- 
fice it to sa}', that he accepted the com- 
mantl of a little handful of colonists 
unacquainted with the educational dis- 
cipline of military schools, and desti- 
tute of military accoutrements and sup- 
plies, and without a navy to guard 
I heir coasts. He was to meet the armed 
battalions of the strongest military 
and nav.il power upon the globe. Kur 



754 



CHEOXOLOGY. 



■Washington, defeat meant not only 1790. 
disgrace and ruin, but an ignominious 
death upon the scaffold. He accepted 
the position with cheerfulness and rare 
courage, refusing any promise of re- 
muneration. His letter of .acceptance 
addressed to the Continental Congress, 
contains these words : " I beg leave to 
assure Congress that, as no pecuniary 
consideration could have tempted me 
to accept this arduous employment at 
the expense of my domestic ea^e and 
liappiness, I do u.>t wish to make any 
profit from it. I will keep an exact 
account of my expenses. These, I 
doubt not, they will discharge. That 
is all I desire."' He continued in com- 
mand of the whole army during the : 
seven years' struggle, and when peace ^ 
was declared, he retired from the army ; 
leaving not an enemy in its ranks, and 
the whole population, civilians and 
soldiers, regarded him as the " Saviour 
of their country." His fiirewell to his 
officers in .nrms is replete with charac- 
ter. '• 'With a heart full of love and 
gratitude I now take leave of you. I 
most devoutly wish that your latter 
years may be as prosperous and happy 
as your former ones have been glorious 
and honorable. I can not come to 
each of you to take my leave, but shall 
be obliged if each of you will come and 
take me by the hand." Tears blinded 
Ids eyes, and he could say no more. 



Not a word was spoken as each officer 
grasped his hand with a silent and 
sad pressure of farewell. 

In the year ITS?, a general convention 
was called to deliberate upon the mo- 
mentous ques'ion of a form of govern- 
ment, adapted to rule the United Colo- 
nies. Washington was sent as a dele- 
giite from Virginia, and was called to 
preside over the convention. The pres- 
ent Constitution of the United States 
was the result of this meeting. For the 
office of Chief Magistrate of the Na- 
tion, Washington w^is the choice of the 
people, and he was inaugurated April 
30, 17S9. remaining in tbe ch.iir two 
terms of four years each. When he 
again retired to private life, the gnite- 
fiil acknowledgments of a united and 
happy people followed him to his rural 
home. Washington was, by inherit- 
ance, a slaveholder, but the system met 
his strong disapproval, and in his own 
language" let him express his feelings. 
In a letter to Robert Morris, he says : 
"There is no man living who wishes 
more sincerely than I do to see a plan 
adopted for the abolition of slavery."' 
And in his last will and testament, he 
arranged for the emancipation of all 
his slaves upon the death of his wife ; 
she holding, by right of dower, con- 
trol of them. But upon his death, his 
wife relinquished her right, and the 
slaves were at once emancipated. It is 



gratifying to know the esteem in which 
Washington was held by illustrious 
men of the '■ Old World."' Napoleon, 
in speaking of him to an American, of 
whom he had inquired concerning his 
health, s.aid: "Washington can never 
bo otherwise than well. The measure 
of his fiime is full. Posterity will talk 
of him with reverence as the founder 
of a great empire, when my name shall 
be lost iu the vortex of revolutions,"' 
Frederic the Great, King of Prussia, 
presented his picture to Gen. Washing- 
ton, and beneath it on the canvas were 
inscribed these words : " From the 
oldest General in Europe to the great- 
est General on earth."' Charles James 
Fox, the renowned British Premier, 
said of him : " I c.in not indeed help 
admiring the wisdom and fortune of 
this great man ; a character of virtues 
so happily tempered by one another, 
and so wholly unalloyed by .any vices, 
is hardly to lie found on the pages of 
history." For him it has been reserved 
to run the race of glory without ex- 
periencing the smallest interruption to 
the brilliancy of his career," 

vox HTTMBOLDT. 
Humboldt visited South America, and ex- 
plored the mountain regions, and 
gathered new collections to his v.ast 
st(>res of scientific facts and natural 
curiosities. 



18 0. 



Removal of the se,tt of Government to 
Washington 503 

Temporary treaty with France 502 

General bankruptcy law passed. 

May 13. Disbanding of the provisional 
army 503 

Nov. " The Democratic, or old Rep'Mkan, 
partti elected its first candidate for 
President. 

New York Etening Post established. 

3Iarch 4. Inauguration of Thomas 
Jefferson as President of the United 
States, with Aaron Burr for Vice- 
President 503 

June 10. War with Tripoli com- 
menced 504 

June 14. Death of Benedict Arnold. 
See biography 431 

Napoleon "attemlited to rutore s/atery in 
SoirtL 

Touissant de VOverture was treacherously 
captured and taken to France, where 
he shortly after died. Dessalines be- i 
came his successor. | 

Port of New Orleans closed by the 
Spanish Government, and United States 
vessels were forbidden to pass down '. 
the Mississippi River. j 

First public library founded. _ | 

Academv of Fine Arts established in New 
York." 

First patents issued for m,aking starch ! 

from corn and potatoes. | 

Santce Canal, in South Carolina, finisheil. 

Ohio admitted into the Union 504 



ISOC. June. Humboldt ascended Chimborazo, 
S. A., to the height of 19.2S6 feet, 

1503. The French army in Hayti capitulated 

to the commander of an English squad- 
ron. 

" American fleet sent to punish piriites In 

the B.arbary States and North Africa. 504 1S04. 

" First undenominational tract society, 
formed, and called " Society for Pro- ; 
moting Chrisrian Knowledge."' ] 

" Adam and Wm. Brent began the manu- " 
facture of pianos in Boston. 

" Fir^t effort made toward teaching mutes. 

Louisiana Purchase. 

" April 30. The territory Iving between 
the Gulf of ilexico and the British 
possessions, the Mississippi River and 1805, 
the Pacific Ocean — over 1,000.000 
square miles — purchased of France for ' " 
$15,000,000. This vast territory con- 
stituted the original State of Louisi- " 
ana .^ 504 

1504. Jan. 1. St. Domingue declared itself an " 

independent Republic, with Dessalines " 

Governor for life. | 

" Feb. 4. Frigate President destroyed at | 

Tripoli by Dei-atur 505 

" Fort Dearborn built — the present site of 

Chicago. 
" Lewis and Clark exploring expedition 

starts across the plains. 
" The Delaware Indians cede to the United 

States an extensive tnct of land lying 



east of the Mississippi River, and be- 
tween the Ohio and Wab.ash Rivers. 505 

Dud Behvcen Alexander Hamilton 
and Aaron Burr. 

Julv 11. Alexander Hamilton, ex-Sec- 
retary of the Treasury, shot and killed 
in a duel with Aaron Burr, Vice-Presi- 
dent of the United States. 

Aug. Bombardment of Tripoli by Com. 
Preble 505 

Oct. 8. Dessalines. Governor of St. 
Domingue, broke the Constitution and 
assumed the title of "Emi)eror of 
Hayri,"' and pltmged the island into a 
series of civil ware by his fantastic at- 
tempt at royalty. 

Sitka. Alaska, founded by the Russian- 
American Fur Company. 

Ice first became an article of commerce 
in the United States. 

England seized sereral armed American 
Tesseli and inmlteil the national jiag. 

June 4. Peace concluded with Tripoli. 505 

March 4. Thomas Jeiferson re-ina>igu- 
rated as President, with George Clinton 
for Vice-President 503 

Columbia River and Oregon Ex- 

flored 

Nov. 15. Clark and Lewis arrived at the 

Columbia River on their exploring 

vovage. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



755 



1800. Buenos Ayres and Montevideo captured 
by the English. 

" Scoresby, in command of a whaling ves- 
sel, reached the latitude of 81°— within 
500 miles of the North Pole. 

" May 16. "British Orders in ComieU," 
which declared the whole coast of 
Europe in a state of blockade 506 

" Slave trade abolished in Jamaica. 

Spo/h-d Fever. 

" The s])otted fever apjicarcd in Massachu- 
setts, spreading over the other States, 
and continuing until the year 1815, 
and proved very fatal. 

" First. Relief Society for widows and 
children, founded in New York by 
Joanna Bethune. 

" Total eclipse of the sun at midday. 

" Oct. 11. Dessalines assassinated, and 
Eastern Hayti returned to Spanish rule. 
Western Hayti was divided between 
several rival chiefs. 

" Nuv. 21. Bonaparte'' s ^^ Berlin Decree,^' 
which forbade the introduction of En- 
glish goods into any port of Europe, 
even by the vessels of neutral pow- 
ers 506 

1807. British vessels ordered to leave United 
States waters 507 

" June 32. Attack on the American 
frigate Chesapeake by the British ship 
Leopard 506 



Aar 



Burr Tried for Treason. 



Aaron Burr was tried for high treason, 
and was also charged with a conspiracy 
against the Government, and with 
being ambitious for dominion, and 
with contemplating founding a new 
empire, with himself for sovereign. 
But the prosecution failed in its legal 
proofs, and he was acquitted. 

Congress ordered the iirst coast survey. 

Great Britain lays a tribute upon all 
neutral nations trading with France or 
her allies 506 

Slave Trade Declared to be Piracy. 

Importation of slaves forhidden by Con- 
gress, and the traffic declared to be 
piracy. 

Wooden clocks first manufactured by 
machinery in Connecticut, by Eli 
Terry. 

Dec. 17. Bonaparte's "-Milan Decree." 
He decrees the confiscation of all ves- 
sels and cargoes violating the " Berlin 
Decree," or submitting to search by 
Great Britain, or paying her imlawful 
tribute 506 

Pec. 23. Emlargo laid by the United 
States upon all commerce preventing 
American vessels from sailing for 
foreign ports, and all foreign vessels 
from taking out cargoes, and all coast- 
ing vessels were required to give bonds 
to land their cargoes in the United 
States 506 



Fulton s Steamboat. 
First successful stcamhont built by Robt. 
Pulton, a native of Pennsylvania, and 
called the Clermont. Mr. Fulton made 
his trial trip on the Hudson River, 
from Nesv York to Albany, and thou- 
sands of curious spectators tlironged the 
shores to witness the failure of " Fulton 



the Fanatic." None believed, few 
hoped, and everyljody jeered. An olil 
Quaker accosted a young man who had 
taken passage, in this manner : " JoJm, 
will tlici- risk thy life in iucli a concern ? 
I tell thee she is the most fearful mld- 
foid lii'ing, and thy father ought to 
restrain thee." But, on Friday morn- 
ing, the 4th of August, the Clermont 
lei't the wharf, and went puffing up the 
Hudson with every berth, twelve in 
number, engaged to Albany. The fare 
was seven dollars. Fulton stood upon 
the deck and viewed the motley and 
jeering crowd upon the shore, with 
silent satisfaction. As she got fairly 
under way and moved majestically up 
the stre:im, there arose a deafening 
hurrah from ten thousand throats. The 
jiassengers returned tlie cheer, but Ful 
ton, with flashing eye and manly bear- 
ing, remained speechless. He felt this 
to be his long-sought hour of triumph. 
They were cheered all along the pas- 
sage from every hamlet and town, and 
at West Point the whole garrison were 
out and cheered most lustily. At New- 
burg, the whole surrounding country 
had gatliered, and the side-hill city 
swarmed with curious and excited 
multitudes. The boat reached Albany 
safely — 150 miles in 32 hours, and re- 
turned in 30. The Clermont was a 
success, and Robert Fulton was famous. 

Jan. 1. Slave-trade in the United States 
(iholished. 

Bonaparte ordered the seizure and con- 
fiscation of all American vessels arriv- 
ing in France 506 

First printing office west of the Mississippii 
Biver established at St. Louis, by Jolin 
Henkle. 

First Bible Society founded in Philadel- 
phia. 

Guiana taken from the French by the En- 
glish. 

First woolen mills set up in New York. 

March 1. The Embargo repealed. . . . 507 
" 4. James Madison and George 
Clinton inaugurated President and 
Vice-President 507 

All commercial intercourse forbidden 
between France and England 507 



Bonaparte s Orders. 

Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the sale of 
133 confiscated American vessels and 
cargoes, valued at $8,000,000. 

March. Ba/nbouillet Decree issued by 
Napoleon, ordering all American ves- 
sels to be seized and condemned. . 507 

Manufacture of steel pens began in Balti- 
more. 

First agricultural fair in the United 
States held at Georgetown, D. C. 

Insurrection in Mexico under Don Miguel 
Hidalgo. 

Independence of Colombia, S. A., pro- 
claimed. 

Bolivar sent to London to buy arms for 
Venezuela. 

Revolution began in Chili. 

Porcelain clay discovered in Vermont. 

Hartford Fire Insurance Company incor- 
porated. 

May 16. Engagement between the U. S. 
fiigate President and the British sloop 
of war Little Belt 508 

Depredations upon American vessels by 
England and France continued . . . 508 

Plan for plating vessels with iron, as a de- 



fense against shot and shell, devised by 
R. L. Stevens. 

I'he first steamboat for Western waters, 
the New Orleans, built by Robert Ful- 
ton. 

Screws wero made by machinery for the 
first time at Philadelphia. 

Nov. 7. Battle of Tippecanoe. Te- 
cumseh defeated by Gen. Harrison . 510 

Dec. Burning of a theatre in Jiichmond. 
The Governor of Virginia and family, 
and a large number of persons, perished 
in the flames. 

Colombia declared independent. 

Chili victorious and independence pro- 
claimed, with Carrera as President. 

Uruguay attached to Montevideo. 

Buenos Ayres begins a struggle for inde- 
pendence. 

Mexican insurgents shot. 

Union of Venezuela, Ecuador, and New 
Granada in the Republic of Colombia. 

J?ule of a Tyrant. 

Independence of Paraguay achieved ; 
but the power of the Government fell 
into the hands of Dr. Francia, who be- 
came absolute dictator. He ruled the 
country for 29 years with merciless 
rigor. He stopped all ingress and 
egress of foreigners, and the shipping 
rotted in the rivers, and all enteqjrise 
ceased. Liberty of speech was sup- 
pressed, and the better class of iJeoiJlc 
were generally destroyed. 

Uruguay attached to Montevideo. 

Great Earthquake. 

Great and extensive earthquake at New 
Madrid, Mo., extending nearly 300 miles 
along the Mississippi, and doing great 
damage to the country, changing the 
currents of the rivers and swallowing 
up large sections of land. 

John Jacob Astor''s Pacific Fur Company 
established their post at Astoria, Ore- 
gon. 

Breech-loading rifles were invented by 
John Hall. 

The number of American vessels captured 
by England in the preceding Jive yean 
was 917, by France 558, and 10,000 
seamen were impressed. 

April 3, Embargo laid for 90 days. 
" 8. Louisiana admitted into the 
Union. 

May. Congress levied a tax of $3,000,- 
000. 

War of Eighteen Hundred and 
Twelve. 

Juno 18. War declared with Great 
Britain 508 

June 33. British Orders in Council re- 
pealed. 

July 12. Hull invaded Canada 508 

" 17. Surrender of Mackinaw. .. 508 

Aug. 5. Van Home defeated. 
" 8. Miller defeated. 
" 13. The Essex silenced the British 
ship of war Alert. 

Aug. 15. Surrender of Gen. Hull at 
Detroit before the first blow was 
struck 508 

Aug. 19. Capture of the British frigate 
Gverrierc by the Constitution ("Old 
Ironsides ") 508 

Oct. 13. Defeat of the Americans at 
Queenstown. 



75G 



CHRONOLOGY. 



Oct. 18. Capture of the BrUish brig 
Frolic by the U. S. sloop of war 
Waxp 508 

Oct. 25. Capture of the British frigate 
Macedonian by the frigate United Slates, 
Capt. Decatur 509 

Dec. 29. Destruction of the British 
frigate /rt^.^ ..tVtlic .on^t of Brazil, by 
the Gonntituli'',!. r:ijit, ISninbriflge. 509 

Venezuela rcduri'. I tc Spmish rule. 

Buenos Ayres vieforious over Spain. 

Gen. Miranda sent as prisoner to Spain. 

Massacre hy the Indians at Frenchtoim of 
American prisoners in care of Gen. 
Proctor, -who left them unprotect- 
ed 509 

March 4. James Madison re-inaugurated 
as President, with Elbridge Gerry for 
Vice-President 705 

The Creek Indians subdued by Gen. 
Jackson 511 

The British blockaded the American 
coast 506 

Duel between General Jaclson and Col. 
Benton. 

The power-loom introduced into the Uni- 
ted States. 

Chili invaded by Paroja, a Spanish 
officer, and reduced to subjection. 

Bolivar marches to the conquest of Vene- 
zuela. Carraccas capitulates. 

Mexico declared independent, and a 
National Congress called under Morales. 

First rolling-mills built at Pittsburg, Pa. 

Stereotyping first introduced into the 
United States. 

Feb. 25. The Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, 
captures the British sloop Peacock. 509 

April 27. Capture of York (Toronto), 
Upper Canada, by Brig.-Gen. Pike, who 
lost his life by the explosion of the 
magazine during the action 5U9 

May 27. Battle of Fort George 509 

" 28. British attack Sackett's Harbor 
and are repulsed 509 

June 1. Capture of the frigate G/iesnpeake, 
Capt. Lawrence, by the British frigate 
Shannon. The captain of the Ghesapteake 
was killed in the action 510 

July. Attack of British and Indians 
upon Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson. 

Aug. 14. American ship Argus taken by 
the British sloop Pelican 510 

Aug. 30. Massacre of Fort Slimms, Ala. 
Three hundred persons killed by the 
Indians 510-11 

Sept. 5. Enterprise captures the Boxer. 
" 10. Commodore Perry's great victory 
on Lake Erie 510 

Tccumsch Killed. 

Oct. 5. Battle of the Thames, Canada, 
between Gen. Harrison and Gen. Proc- 
tor, with his Indian allies under Tecum- 
seh, who was killed in the action. 510 

Nov. 11. Battle of Williamsburg. 

Dec. 12. Burning of Newark, Canada. 

Dec. 13. Buffalo burned by the British. 
" 29. Capture of Fort Niagara, N. Y., 
by the Biitish. 

Dec. 30. Desolation of the Niagara 
frontier by the British. 

March 37. Battle of Horse-shoe Bend, 
liy Gen. Jackson, in the Creek war. 
The Indians were entirely subdued, 
and 600 warriors were slain. Peace 
was soon secured 511 

March 28. Capture of the Essex at Val- 
paraiso, S. A., by the British fi:igate 
Phxbe 512 

April 39. Peacock captures the Epervier 



May 5. Oswego bombarded and taken 
by the British 511 

June 25. The Reindeer captured by the 
lla.7'. 

July 3. Fort Erie captured from the 
British 511 

July 5. Battle of Chippewa fought by 
(icns. Browii and Sett 511 

July 25. Batll,ufl;rid.ic,r„ter,orLund.fs 
Lane, fought under Gen. Scott, who 
was wounded 511 

Aug. 9 and 11. Stonington, Conn., bom- 
barded by the British. 

Aug. 15. IJattle of Fort Erie. 
"" 34. Battle of Bladensburg. 

Washingtoti Burned. 

Aug. 25. British occupy Washington, 
and burn the c.apitol and public build- 
ings 513 

Aug. 29. Alexandria, D. C, taken by 
the British 512 

Sept. 1. The Wasp captures the Avon. 
" 5. Attack on Fort Bower (now 
Jlorgan), Ala. The American loss was 
219 511 

Se2)t. 11. McDonougKs victory on Lake 
Chamjilain, near Plattsburg. The 
British lost in this engagement over 
2,000 men. 

Sept. 12. Battle near Baltimore. Bom- 
bardment of Fort Henry. 

Nov. 7. British expelled from Pcnsacola, 
Fla., by Jackson. 

Dec. 14. Battle on LakeBorgue, La. 513 
" 33. Battle below New Orleans, 
L.a 513 

Dec. 24. Treaty of Peace signed at 
Ghent, Belgium 514 

Jethro Wood 2MtMted his iron mold- 
board plow. 

First steel plates for eriijr<u-ii,ii made by 
Jacob Perkins, of M.i.-.s',ir'i,i.-;: r/.-.-. 

First Mexican Constitnti.iii inomulgated. 

Indian maxsacir at h'. rl />. ,irli,,ni (now 
Chicago). 111.. o„,l th. f.-ii hiinud. 

Bolivar prnclaiiiird liirtut'ir of the west- 
ern provineis of Veiie/.urla. 

Guiana retaken by the French. 

John Gilroy, first Anglo-Saxon settler in 
California, settled in the Santa Clara 
Valley. 

The Spanish General Boves defeated 
Bolivar, with a loss to the patriots of 
15,000 men. 

The Spaniards take Carraccas. 

Jacksiin's Great Victory at New 
Orleans. 

Jan. 8. Battle of Ne-v Orleans. Gen. 
Jackson commanded the American 
forces, and Gen. Paokeuham the Brit- 
ish. Jackson obtained a great victory, 
the British loss amounting to nearly 
2,000, while the Americans lost but 13 
men 512 

Jan. 15. The President captured by a 
British squadron. 

Feb. 17. Treufy of Ghent ratified by the 
President. ... 514 

Feb. 20. Constitution captures the Cyane 
and Levant. 

Feb. 34. Robert Fulton, the lirst suc- 
cessful inventor and liiiildri' ofii steam- 
boat, died in New York His first 
boat built in America was the Cler- 
■Moiit, which started upon its trial trip 
from New York to Albany, Sept. 10, 
1S07. Mr. FuUon was not the inventor 



of steam-navigation, but by uniting 
diligence and great genius, he de-' 
Vi'IopiMl ihe conci|ili()n of niber minds 
into :i .ini.'liral and lM-ai,!ifnl rralitv. 
J. MarrI,. ll'.ir.l, ■/,,,■■,,/ ,/■/'/, , I /,//, ,:v . . -,U 

Jlarrli -:;. /!.,rn,/ raplurr^ llir /V/,v"/.v. 

Bra.:i/ r„/s,d to the rank of a Kingduia by 
Portugal. 

Jlay. l)ecatur sent against Algiers. 

Cartagena taken by Morillo, a Spanish 
oiBcer. 

June 17. Algcrine frigate captured. 

First axes manufactured in the United 
States by Oliver Hunt, in East Doug- 
lass, Mass. 

Great Gale in New England. 

Sept. 23. Great gale and flood in New 
England. Immense damage was done 
to property, and much shipping de- 
btmved in the harbors, and the loss of 
life 'was great. In Providence, Ithoile 
Island, vessels were .actually driven 
over the wharves and throngh the 
streets. The rain dcsrcndcd in torrents, 
and in many places families were 
rescued in boats fruin the upper stories 
of their houses, Majestic oaks, a 
hundre<l years old, were torn up by 
their roots, and twisted into shreds. 
In Stonington, Conn,, the tide rose 17 
feet higher than usual. There is no 
account of a storm or gale, in all re- 
sjjeets, so remarkable as was this in the 
history of the United States. In 35 
hours the fall of rain reached 8.05 
inches. The damage done by the flood 
almost equaled that of the hurricane. 
Millions of dollars of property antl 
very many livr^ wiie lo-t. 

Dec. 23. Moia'c- ex. cntcd as a rebel. 
5. " 11. Indiana aduiitted into the 
Union. 

Second United States Bank chartered 
with a capital of $35,000,000. 

Steam first apjdied to paper-making at 
Pittsburg. 

The Poi tuguese take possession of Monte- 

Tlie luiited provinces of La Plata declared 

independent. 
Janus Miinroe was elected President and 

D>inid C. Tomkins Vice-President.. 515 
Bolivar proclaimed Commander-in-chief 

of the forces in Venezuela and New 

Granada. 
Conquest of Guiana by the patriots. 
Mrs. Emma Willard opened her lamous 

school for girls in Troy, N. Y. 
This was known as the year without asum- 

r. Pensions granted to Ri volutionary soldiers. 

Indians in Georgia and Alabama 
subdued by Generals Jackson and 
Gaines 511 

Eric Canal commenced. 

Dee. 10. Mississippi admitted into the 
Union 517 

Chili inv.aded by Gen. San Martin. He 
defeats the Royalists. 

Bolivar defeated 'Morillo after a desperate 
battle of three days. 

The Spanish forces evacuate the pro\-incc3 
of New Granada and Venezuela. 

Publishing house of Harper & Brother 
founded in New York. 

The Columbian Printing-press, invented 
by Geo. Clymer, was the first impor- 
tant improvement in printing-presses in 
this country. 

New England Asylum for the Deaf and 



CHRONOLOGY. 



757 



Dumb founded by Dr. M. F. Cogswell 
and T. H. Gallaway. 

1818. Corner-done of the present United States 

Capitol laid. United States flag per- 
manently remodeled. 

" Jlay 24. Pensacola, Florida, captured 
from the Spanish by Gen. Jackson. 517 

" Dec. 3. Illinois admitted into the 
Union 517 

" Chili secured her independence. 

J^/rs/ S/camboat Crossed the Atlantic. 

1819. The American steamship Savannah made 

the tjrst steaui voyage across the At- 
lantic. 

Odd Fellowship in the United States. 

" April 2G. The first permanent Lodge was 
formed in Baltimore, Md., by Thomas 
Wildey, an Englishman, with a mem- 
bership of five persons, and called 
Washington Lodge, No. 1. To-day the 
membership of the Order is numbered 
by scores of thousands. 

" Bolivar called a National Convention, and 
an army of 14,000 men was raised, 
together with powerful aid from En- 
gland in vessels and munitions of war, 
with officers from Germany, France, 
and Poland. 

" Independence of Colombia secured by 
Bolivar, and a union formed with Vene- 
zuela and Quito, under name of Re- 
public of Colombia. 

" Cape Breton re-annexed to Nova Scotia. 

" Dec. 14. Alabama admitted into the 
Union ' o 17 

Missouri Compromise. 

1820. Missouri Compromise agreed to hy Con- 

gress. 
In 1818 a petition was presented to Con- 
gress from the Territory of Missouri, 
asking authority to form a Constitution 
for a State. In Feb., 1819, Mr. Talmage, 
a New York Republican, moved an 
amendment prohibiting the introduc- 
tion of slavery into any new State. A 
stormy debate of three days followed, 
during which Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, 
said, " A fire has been kindled which 
all the waters of the ocean can not pnt 
out, and which only seas of blood can 
extinguish." To which Mr. Talmage 
replied: "If civil war, which gentle- 
men so much threaten, must come, I can 
only say, let it come ! .... If blood is 
necessary to extinguish any fire which 
I have assisted to kindle, while I regret 
the necessity, I shall not hesitate to 
contribute my own." The Senate struck 
out the amendment, and the measure 
was lost. In 1820 a bill was passed 
authorizing Missouri to form a Consti- 
tution without restrictions, but to which 
was attached a section prohibiting 
slavery in all territories north of latitude 
36^ 30'. This clause is what is known 
as the " Missouri Compromise," and 
•was warmly advocated by Henry Clay, 
and wkich was called " Henry Clay's 
Compromise Measure." 

" March 15. Maine admitted into the 
Union 517 

" Oct. Cession of Florida to the United 
States for $5,000,000, and ratified by 
Spain 517 

" Heated discussions in Congress on the 
Slavery Question. 



1820. Percussion caps for guns first came into 

use. 
"■ Monroe elected President the second time, 

with Daniel C. Tompkins again as 

Vice-President. 
" A Democratic Government declared in 

the provinces of La Plata. 

Petroleum Discovered. 

'' Petroleum springs were first struck in 
Ohio, although their existence was 
known to the earliest settlers around 
the head waters of the Alleghany River, 
and oil-creeks were found in Pennsyl- 
vania and New York from which the 
inhabitants gathered oil by spreading 
woolen blankets on the surface and 
ringing them out. 

" Macadamized roads first introduced into 
the United States. 

" Death of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, an 
American pioneer, explorer, and hunts- 
man of much renown. 

1821. July 31. Jackson takes possession of 

Florida 517 

" Lithography first introduced by Burnett 
and Doolittle. 

" Straw hats first made from American 
straw or grass, in imitation of the Leg- 
born, by Miss Sophia Woodhouse. 

" Guatemala threw off the yoke of Spain 
and was annexed to Mexico. 

" Independence of Peru proclaimed under 
San Martin, liberator of Chili, who was 
made Protector, but soon resigned and 
was replaced by Simon Bolivar as 
Dictator. 

'' Aug. 10. Missouri admitted into the 
Union 517 

" First settlement of Liberia. 

'' Chili and the Argentine Republic carried 
their combined arras into Peru. 

■' Revolution in Brazil. 

'' Uruguay annexed to Brazil the second 
time. 

" April. Mexico declared independent under 
Don Augustine. 

" Iturbide was proclaimed Emperor by the 
army and mob of Mexico under the 
name of Augustine the First. 

" Dec. Santa Anna proclaimed the Republic 
at Vera Cruz. 

" Revolution in Brazil. 

1832. Boyer united the two provinces of Hayti 

in one Government with himself as 
Chief 

'' The first mercantile house opened in 
CaliTornia by an Engli-h firm from 
Peru and established at Monterey. 

" Death of Maj.-Oen. Starke. See biog- 
raphy, p. 439. 

" First cotton-mill huilt in Loicell, Mass. 

" Gas successfully introduced into Boston. 

" First platform-scale made by Thomas 
EUicott, who became the founder of the 
Philadelphia Scale- Works. 

Dom Pedro II. Crowned. 

" Oct. 13. Brazil proclaimed an Independ- 
ent Empire, with Dom Pedro crowned 
Emperor. 

'' War hy Commodore Porter on the Cuban 
pirates. 

"Monroe Doctrine." 

1833. June 18. The "■ Monroe Doctrine:' The 

message of I'res. Monroe, for this year, 
contained the following declarations : 
"That we should consider any attempt, 



1823. on the part of the allied powers, to ex- 
tend their system to any portion of 
this hemisphere as dangerous to our 
peace and safety," and " that we could 
not view any interpositiou for the 
purpose of oppressing governments on 
this side of the water, whose independ- 
ence we had acknowledged, or con- 
trolling, iu any manner, their destiny 
liy any European power, in any other 
light than as a manifestation of an 
unfriendly disposition toward the 
United States. See biography o( 
James Monroe. 

1833. Central America formed into a Federal 

Republic, and became independent. 
" Guatemala became a part of the Central 

American Republic. 
" First gas company formed in New York 

city, with a capital of $1,000,000. 
'' First teachers' seminary opened iu Con 

cord, Vermont, by Rev. S. R, Uill. 

Rise of the Owen Communities. 

1824. The i)rinciples and doctrines of Robert 

Owen were quite extensively preached 
and several communities were formed. 
But the only one which merits atten- 
tion is that of New Harmony, Ind., but 
which proved a failure after a short and 
interesting career. Over 900 people 
gathered under the direction of Robert 
t)wen to inaugurate the Millennium. 
But when the finances of Mr. Owen 
were exhausted, the enterprise fell 
through. Mr. Owen declared himself 
disappointed in mankind, and to the 
general depravity of the people he 
ascribed the failure of his enterprise. 

" Pins first made hy machinery and patented 
by L. W. Wright, of Connecticut. 

" First reformatory-school founded for the 
prevention of pauperism and crime, and 
called the " New York House of Refuge 
for Juvenile Delinquents." 

" Congress passed a tariff to protect and 
encourage cotton manuTacturers. 

" Abdication of Iturbide, Emperor of Mex- 
ico. He was banished, and sailed for 
London. 

" March 13. Convention with Great Britain 
for the suppression of the slave 
trade 518 

" April 5. Convention with Russia in re- 
lation to the north-west boundary. 518 

" Bolivar defeated the Spaniards at Gunin 
Aycucho. 

" July 19. Execution of Iturbide, Emperor 
of Mexico, through the machinations 
of Santa Anna. 

" Aug. 13. Arrival of Oen, Lafayette on a 
visit to the United States. For sketch 
of his life see page 413. 

'' Nov. John Qitincy Adams elected Presi- 
dent, and John C. Calhoun Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

" Bolivar became Dictator of Peru. 

" Buenos Ay res organized into a Republic 
under Las Heras. 

" Brazil adopts a Constitution. 

'' Mexican Congress proclaimed a new 
Consiitution similar to that of the 
United States, and a Republic of 19 
States and 5 Territories formed with 
Guadalupe Victoria as President, and 
Gen. Bravo as Vice-President. 
825. Tiie Capitol at Was hington comjjleted. 

" First edge tool manufactory, established 
by SamL W. Collins, at CoUinsville, 
Connecticut. 

" 1 ol via made an independent State, and 



(58 



CHRONOLOGY. 



iianit'il in honor of Simon Bolivar, and 
a repulilican form of government adopt- 
fi\, witli (icu. Sucre as President, 
1835. Bolivar returned to Colombia aud a re- 
publican government formed. 

J^irsi Overland Journey to Cali- 
fornia. 

" Jedcdiali Smith, a trapper, performed the 
first overland journey to California, and 
established a post near the town of 



Fols 

Sept. 7 



7),7-. 



hire of Lafayette for 
full description of the 

iinouies, and touching 
tiiliutc (if :i orateful nation to a beloved 
and hniKirc-d benefoctor, see p. 530. 
For bioynipliy, see p. 412. 
July 4. i'hc r,Oth Anniversary of Ameri- 
can Iiuh-jiciidaicc. A grand jn'l)ilee was 
universally observed throughout the 
United States. 

Jo/m Adams. 
July 4. Death of John Adams, first Vice- 
President and second President of the 
"United States. Mr. Adams was born 
in the town of Braintree, the present 
town of Quincy, on the 30th of Octo- 
ber, 1735. He was the son of a farmer 
of limited means, who toiled early and 
late for a very frugal support for his 
family. He was anxious to give his 
son a collegiate education, that he 
might become a minister of the Gospel. 
John entered Harvard College at the age 
of sixteen, and graduated at twenty. 
He had received all the aid from his 
father he could expect, and he there- 
fore obtained a situation as teacher 
in Worcester, and at the same time he 
began the study of law. At twenty- 
two he opened a law office in his native 
town and continued to study. He 
rapidly rose in the esteem of tlie pub- 
lic and in his profession. At the pas- 
sage of the Stamp Act, Mr. Adams en- 
tered the political arena, and his first 
act was to draw up a series of resolu- 
tions in remonstrance, which were 
adopted by the citizens of Braintree, 
and subsequently, word for word, by 
more than forty towns in the State. 
Mr. A dams now entered upon a distin- 
guished political career. His able de- 
fense of a sailor who thrust a harpoon 
through the heart of an English Lieut., 
who with his press-gang from a British 
ship were attempting to capture him, 
gained Mr. Adams great popularity, 
and established the principle that the 
infamous law of impressment could 
have no recognition on American soil. 

Mr. Adams was one of the five dele- 
gates from Massachusetts to the Conti- 
nental Ccmp-ess. It became the imper- 
ative iliity iif this Ci.imress to make a 
(bcisinii wliicli should tell upon all fu- 
ture time. Mr, Adams was placed upon 
the most important committees. These 
demanded a redress of their grievances. 
This Congress received tbe following 
eulogy from Loid Ch dliain : 

"1 have studied niid admired the 
free Stat, s oT aiitli|iiily, the master- 
spirits of tin- woiM; Ijut for solidity 
of reason, force of sagacity, and wis- 
dom of conclu-ion, no body of men can 
take the precedence of this Continental 
Congress." 



The following April the Revolution 
began. The liattlc of Bunker Hill was 
fought. Mr. Adams was in t'ongress. 
but his wile kept him informed of 
events occurring at Boston. The day 
following the opening of the battle, 
Mrs. Adams wrote these words to her 
husl)nnd : 

" The day, perhaps the decisive day, 
is come, on which the fate of America 

depends Charlestown is laid in 

ashes The constant roar of can- 
non is so distressing that we can 
neither eat, drink, nor sleep." 

John Adams and Thomas Jefitrson 
were appointed by the committee to 
draft a Declariitinn of Imlependcnco. 

Mr. Adams was tI]rC„l,,ssiis of debate 
in the halls n|'( onun ~s. Mr. .btVerson 
had little skill ill .1. ball. , bill wielded 
a powerful [nii. When tluv met to 
perform their task, each urged the 
other to make the draft. Jlr. Adams 
finally said : " I will not do it. There 
are three good reasons wdiyyou should. 
First, you are a Virginian, and Vir- 
ginia should take the lead in this busi- 
ness. Second, I am obnoxious, sus- 
pected, unpopular ; you are the reverse. 
Third, you can write ten times better 
than I can." Jeflerson replied : " Well, 
if you insist upon it, I will do as well 
as i can." The result of this cmference 
we need not dwell u|Hin, saM' that the 
prosperity and haiipiness of this great 
nation dates back to tliat hour and that 
action. Mr. Adams was appointed on 
a committee with Franklin and Rut- 



confer with Lord II 



Mr 



W( 



we with 
request 
I'-rdship 
Id only 
letcr of 
replied : 
to your 
IS in anv 
■ Mritisii 



])rop(>sitions. You may vie' 

light you please except tli:it 

subjects. We shall enn-ider ourselves 

in no other character than that in 

which we were placed by order of 

Congress." 

Dr. Gordon said of Mr. Adams : "Tn 
a word, I deliver to you the opinion of 
every man in the House when I a<kl, 
that he possesses the clearest head and 
firmest heart of any man in Congress." 

In 1777 he was npiiointe.l a .lelegate 
to France, to take tin- i-laerof Silas 
Drane, who had berii recall. 'd, and to 
cooperate with Dr. rraiiklin and Artluir 
Lee, in the endeavor to obtain assist- 
ance in arms and money from the 
French Government. In 1779 5Ir. 
Adams was sent to Paris to be in readi- 
ness to negotiati- a Ircatv of piace and 
commerce with (Ireat i;iil,iiii. 

While wailin- tli,- niolnai of the 
English Parii.ment, lir \isit.,l Holland 
and negoiiali'd impoiiant lo.ans, and 
formed impoManl e.annirri'ial treaties. 

In 17S-'', iil'lor a L^nat anionnt of dip- 
lomatic maneuvering, a detiuite treaty 
was eflected through the agency of 



Adams, Franklin, 
Jefl'erson. The ci 
and excitement 
Adams haet passe 
fever and his lif 



irens, .lay, anti 
ant anxietv, toil, 
■nigh wbic'h Mr. 
lirew him into a 
as for a time in 



danger. Upon his recover 
paired to England, where he : 



he re- 
mained 
a short time, wdien lie was again or- 
dered to visit Holland and obtain an- 



other loan. In 1785 Mr. Adams was 
appointed Envoy to the Court of St. 
James. He was now to meet, face to 
f ice. ihe King of EnglaneJ, as the first 
Minister to that court, from the power 
which had so recently humbled them. 
It was a very trying as well as a tri- 
umphant position. But Mr. Adams 
was. sufficient for the occasion, and 
in the interview with his August 
Majesty, showed less embarrassment 
and full as much dignity as the king 
himself. This was a day of proud 
victory for America, and for her noble 
and patriotic Minister; and we 1 did 
he discharge his duty, and gallantly 
and modestly did he wear his honors. 
In 1Ts!1 Mr, Adams was chosen for 
Vieed'nsidrut, with George Washing- 
ton, w hieh ollice he held for two terms, 
and upon the close of the second term 
he was placed in the Presidential chair. 
Upon his retirement from this high 
office, which he had filled with a con- 
scientious regard for duty, but which 
had been a stormy and difficult admin- 
istration, he repaired to his fiirm at 
Quincy. Party politics had run high, 
and the Vice-President, Jett'eison, liis 
staunch fi-iend, was called to side with 
the opposition. This was a severe trial 
for Mr. Adams, and caused a breach in 
their remarkable friendship of thirteen 
years duration. 

Mr. Adams never again entered pub- 
lic life, except to draw up an able pa- 
per exposing the atrocities committed 
by the English Government up<m 
American ships, in searching them and 



Adams lived to see his cherished son, 
.lolin liuincey, in the Presidential chair, 
lie was now ninety years of age. The 
year following upon the anniversary of 
"the national independence he departed 
this life. His last act was to send a 
toast to be presented to the celebration 
at Quincy on the following fourth of 
July. Wfien appealed to, he said : " I 
give you Independence forever." His 
last words were, " Jefferson still lives," 
but Jefterson had departed this life an 
hour before. 

Thomas Jefferson. 
July 4. Death of Thomas Jefferson, third 
I'resident of the United States. Jlr. 
Jefl'erson was born in Albemarle Coun- 
ty, Virginia, on the 3d of April, 1743. 
His father was a man of wealth and 
culture, and his mother an intelligent 
and accomplishe I woman, reared in 
London and accustomed to the society 
of the refined, and the luxuries derived 
from wealth and pi sition. Thomas 
was the eldest of a fiimily of eight 
children. His father died when he 
was but fourteen years of age. At the 
age of seventeen he entered William 
and Mary College, in an advanced 
class. 

Upon leaving college he entered the 
law office of Mr. Wythe, one of the 
most distinguished lawyers in the 
State. He was then not twenty-(me 
years of age, and continued his intense 
application to study. As a young 
man, Mr, Jefferson was possessed of a 
singularly pure and exemplary char- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



182G. actcr. Giimbling he thoroughly de- 
tested. Ardent spirits lie never tasted, 
and tobaceo he never used in any form, 
and he was never heard to utter an 
oatli. 

Mr. Jefferson rapidly rose in dis- 
tinetion at the bar, not as a public 
speaker, but as a profound and deep 
thinker, and an accurate reasoner. In 
1709 Mr. Jefferson was chosen to fill a 
seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 
He was the largest slave-holder in the 
House, yet be introduced a bill em- 
])owering slave-holders to manumit 
their slaves, which was rejected by an 
overwhelming vote. At this time Mr. 
JefJ'erson was possessed of an estate of 
nearly 5,000 acres, tilled by about fifty 
slaves, and, together with his practice 
at the bar, his income amounted to 
$5,000 a year. In 1773 he married 
a wealthy and accomplished young 
widow, who brought him 40,000 acres 
of land and 185 slaves, thus making 
him one of the largest slave-holders in 
Virginia; yet he labored with all his 
energies for the abolition of slavery. 
He declared that institution to be a 
curse to the master, a curse to the 
slave, and an oflense in the sight of 
God. 

In 1774 Mr. Jefferson became an 
active agent, together with Patrick 
Henry and the two Lees, in calling a 
General Annual Congress, in consider- 
ation of the encroachments of Great 
Britain upon the rights of the colonies. 
He also wrote a pamphlet entitled "A 
Summary View of the Rights of British 
America," which had a large circula- 
tion in this country, and was exten- 
sively published in England. At the 
first outbreak of hostilities, Jefferson 
was in fuvor of decisive measures. 
His pen was active and powerful in 
stimulating the colonies to a defense 
of their liberties and rights. In 1775 
Mr. Jefferson took his seat in the 
Colonial Congress at Philadelphia. 
His reputation as a writer had pre- 
ceded him, but his ever prompt, frank, 
explicit decisions, and his native 
modesty and suaviiy of manner capti- 
vated his opponents, and it was said 
he had not an enemy in Congress. In 
five days after he had taken his seat he 
was appointed to prepare an address 
upon the causes of taking up arms. It 
was one of the most populai' documents 
ever written, and was greeted with en- 
thusiasm by all classes. It was read at 
the head of the armies amid the roar of 
cannon and the wild huzzas of the 
soldiery. Yet Thomas Jefferson suf- 
fered the reputation of the authorship 
to rest with one of his fellow-committee- 
men, Dickinson, all his life, and not 
until after his death was it publicly 
known that Jefferson was the real 
author. Such traits of character de- 
veloped the real heroism and nobility 
of the man. 

The pen of Thomas Jefferson drafted 
the Declaration of Independence, 
which was presented to Congress on 
the 28th of June, 1776, and which 
passed a fiery ordeal of criticism of 
three days' debate, during which Jeffer- 
son opened not his mouth. But his 
champion was his co-worker and ear- 
nest sympathizer, John Atlams, who 
fought fearlessly for every v. ord of it, 



with a masterly power and an eloquence 
that was irresistible. Upon the 4th of 
July it was adopted, and signed, amid 
the hush and silence of the most mo- 
mentous and thrillingly sublime occa- 
sion it was ever permitted a citizen of 
any nation upon earth to witness or to 
participate in. Upon that day a nation 
was born, whose glory and magnificent 
l)r<)gross has excelled" every people and 
nation of the earth. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was chosen 
Governor of Virginia. He was then 
thirty-six years of age. During the 
War of the Revolution, he earnestly 
and zealously sustained General Wash- 
ington. In 1781 a party rose in Vir- 
ginia which ojiposed Mr. Jefl'erson and 
atteiiiptc'd to drive him from his office 
anil tlie State. At the same time his 
wife, to whom he was devotedly at- 
tached, was dying of a lingering dis- 
ease. He resolved to retire from pub- 
lic life and devote himself to her. But 
in the confinement of a sick-room and 
at the bedside of a dying wife, his 
enemies still pursued him, reproaching 
him with weakness and a neglect of 
his duties as a citizen and pa'riot. 
L^pon her death he was so overwhelmed 
with sorrow that he became entirely 
insensible, and for three weeks he kept 
his room, seeing no one but his faithful 
daughter, who was his sole companion. 
He never again married, and forty-four 
years after the death of his wife there 
were found in a secret drawer in his 
private cabinet looks of her hair and 
various little souvenirs of his wife, 
upon the envelopes of which were 
written words of endearing remem- 
brance. In 1783 Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed Minister Plenipotentiary, to 
negotiate a treaty of peace with En- 
gland, but the treaty being secured 
before bis preparations were completed, 
it became unnecessary for him to go 
upon that mission. In 1784 he was 
appointed, with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, to act as Minister Plenipoten- 
tiary in negotiating treaties of com- 
merce with foreign nations. Upon his 
arrival in Paris, Dr. Franklin resigned, 
from age and infirmity, and returned 
to America, leaving Jefl'erson his suc- 
cessor. 

He became very popular in Paris, 
whither his great reputation had pre- 
ceded him. No foreign minister ex- 
cept Franklin had ever before been so 
caressed. Yet all the honors which he 
received from the gayest and most flat- 
tering of earthly courts produced no 
change in the simplicity of his republi- 
can tastes. Invited by the National 
Assembly of France to attend and par- 
ticipate in their dchberations, he 
wisely though delicately declined 
the lionor, as inconsistent with his 
position as a recognized ambassador 
to the French Court. In September, 
17S9, Mr. Jefferson returned to America. 
In ITUU he accepted the appointment 
of .Secretary of State from Washington. 
L'lJou the election of John Adams to 
the Presidency, Mr. Jefl'erson became 
Vice - President. His administration 
was anything but a smooth and tran- 
quil path. Party jealousy and strife 
ran high. Jlr. .Jefl'erson was a thorongli 
and staunch Republican, and opposed 
cvcrytLing wLich tended toward the 



growth of an aristocracy in the heart 
of the young and free Government. In 
1801 Thomas Jefferson was made 
President of the United Stiitrs. llis 
eleeliun was hailed with great .lemou- 
strations of joy bj' tlie masses, f'rr he 
was truly ''the jieople's choice.'' In 
1801 he was re-elerted with great 
unanimity, with George Clinton as 
Vice-President. At the close of his 
second term of ofti.-e lii^ fellings can 

'■i\e\-er iliil a |iii<ciihr. n liM-^rd from 

shaking off' the shackles of power. 
. . . . I thank God far the opportunity 
of retirinn; from them without censure, 
and Tarrying with me the nio.^t con- 



lelVeriMii-sliiKpitulity 



fiftv persons as LCnesis al nneliuie. In 
his'tUmilvhe was -natlv heli. veil— al- 
most adired. lli-s , 1.1: -I ilau-hter, 
the accomphshed .Mrs. liamlolpli, thus 
writes of tier adored fatlier: "Never, 
never did I witness a particle of in- 
justice in my father; never speaking a 
harsh -wohI, never manifesting sullen- 
iiess, iir aii:;ir, or irritation. We 
Venerated Ijini as somtthing better and 
wiser than other men. He seemed to 
know everything — even the thoughts 
of our minds, and our untold wishes. 
AVe wondered that we did not fear 
him ; and yet we did not, any more 
than we did companions of onr own 
age." Never was there a more beauti- 
ful exhibition of parental love than 
that exhibited by Thomas Jefl'erson. 

No man ever lived wlio was more 
greatly beloved by those who inti- 
mately knew him. His slaves regarded 
him more as a father than a master. 
He was a member of no church society, 
and hated shams and hypocrisy, es- 
pecially in religious proles-ion. with 
great intensity; yet his admiration of 
Christ and His character, as portrayed 
by the evangelists, was Imundless; and 
hehadgiva' i- p it i > llie Bible as a 
bookof ui' H 1 ill ill :r i\ wisdom, and 
spent mueli ii:i:e in i^ li nu- and copy- 
ing from its pag.-. li: iileliarac- 

■ tor was without /■,. ,,,1 \ri, be- 

cause he made no | ■ [I -ion of 
religion, he was diiio nr..; i- ni ■■in- 
fidel." In reading carefully the history 
of his life, the reader will" see that it 
was less from unbelief in the doctrines 
of (,'lnistiaiHty than from the corrupt 



wearing their religion as a cloak to 
cover their moral deformity. 

Greal Anfi-Maso?i Excite moil. — 

Abduction of Wm. Morgan. 

Thni-liw Wecfl's ntmini.^cenccs nf the nf- 

fiiir. 'IS ,1 M'liihir i<f !}!•: tiiristbjaHng 

( \nlt la i'f' ' 'll thr tint'' "f til'' frif/IS(lC~ 

tl"„. .Mr. Wild ga\e 'llie following 
account ut llic .Morgan atl'air in a letter 
to the N. Y. Herald of Aug. r\ mr,, 
and wliich was copied by tlie Chicago 
I'rihunc the same month : 

"I did not personally know Wm. 
Morgan, who was for more than two 
months writing his book in a house 
adjoining my residence in Rochester, 



7G0 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1826. N. T. When aijplietl to by Mr. Dyer— 
my npxt-donr neighbor, where Morgan 
bo irdert — to print the book, jjurportinj; 
to disclose the secrets of Masonry, I 
declined to do so, believing that a man 
wlio had t.aken an oath to keep a se- 
cret had no right to disclose it. Al- 
though not a Freemason, I had favor- 
able opinions of an institution to which 
Washington, Franklin, and Lafayette 
belonged. On my refusal to print the 
bonk, Morgan removed to liatavi^, 
■vvhcrc he made tlie acquaintance of 
David C. Miller, editor of the Ad- 
v:ic<iti\ also a Mason, who became his 
pulilisher. I pass briefly over a series 
of facts which were judicially estab- 
lished, embracing the arrest of Mor- 
gan, liis conveyance to and continement 
in the county jail at Canandaigua, from 
which he was released and conveyed 
by niglit, in close carriages, through 
Rochester, Chirkson, and along the 
Ridge Hoad to Fort Niagara, in the 
magazine of which he was confined. 
While thus confined a Knight Tem- 
plar Encampment was installed at 
i.eiviston; when at supper, the zeal 
and enthusiasm of the Templars hav- 
ing been aroused by the speeches and 
wine. Col. Wm. King, of Lockport, in- 
vited four men (Whitney, Howard, 
Chubbuck, and Garsidc) from the seats 
at the banqueting table, into an ad- 
joining room, where he informed them 
that he had an order fnmi the Grand 
Master (De Witt Clinton), the execu- 
tion of which required their assistance. 
This party was then driven to Niagara, 
reaching the Fort a little before 12 
o'clock. Upon entering the magazine, 
Col. King informed Morgan that his 
friends had completed their arrange- 
ments for his removal to, and residence 
upon, a farm in Canada. Morgan 
walked with them to the wharf, where 
a boat was held in readiness for them 
by Elisha Adams, an invalid soldier, 
into which the party passed and rowed 
away, Adams remaining to -warn the 
boat ofl^ by sigual, if, on its return, any 
alarm had been given. It was nearly 
3 o'clock in the morning when the boat 
returned, having, as Adams expressed 
it, hist one man, only tive of the six 
being on board when the boat returned. 
AVlien the boat reached the point where 
the Niagara River empties into Lake 
Ontario, a rope being wound around 
Morgan's body, to citlier end of which 
a sinker was attached, he was thrown 
overboard. It is due to the memory 
of Gov. Clint(m to say that Col. King 
had no such order, and no authority 
to make use of his name. It is proper, 
also, to add, that none of these men 
survive. John Whitney, of Rochester, 
wliom I knew so well, related all the 
circumstances connected with the last 
act in the tragedy, to me at Albany in 
If^ol, in tlie presence of Simeon B. 
Jewett, of Clarkson, and Samuel Bar- 
ton, of Lewiston." We glean the fol- 
lowing notes from Mr. Weed's letter : 
'■In Oetolier, 1837, more than a year 
after the abduction of Morgan, a body 
drifted on shore near a small creek 
wliich emptied into Lake Ontario. 
An inquest was lield, and it was pro- 
nounced 'the body of an uuknown per- 
son.' Morgan's friends demanded an- 
other inquest. Mrs. Morgan and a 



M, 



ave a complete 
m, and also of 
liiih was fully 
.Iv fciind, .and 
r-llltr,l in the 

.r \Vm. 
^Iv dis- 



Im„1v 



n.,wliir ,,,,,.1 ,„,.,il,, |,:,.i nn!„.'st,'.ry 
remains, .\ i ,,ii >,|,,,ic \.y \Ur name of 
Timolhy Muiiro-, liaii I.iccmi swept over 
the Niagara Falls eleven days before 
tlie discovery of the body. His wife 
appeared, and demanded another in- 
(jucsi u]ioii it. She gave a very minute 
description of his clothing, which fully 
identiiied that found upon the body, 
but her description of his person was 
very inaccurate, yet, the result of the 
inquest was, that it was the body of 
Timothy Monroe."' Thus ended the 
mysterious -'Jlorgan aflair." 



Humholdl. 

Visit of Baron Alexander von Humboldt, 
the great German naturalist, geologist, 
and distinguished scientist, to the 
United States. This great and learned 
mau was born in Berlin September 14, 
1709, and was educated with great care 
at an early age in the natural sciences. 
He was also a student of the University 
of Prankfort-on-the-Oder. He traveled 
over the Continent, and his researches 
among the Alps and Pyrenees were 
extensive. The King of Spain granted 
liim a passport to all his dominions 
with free use of all astronomical and 
other instruments which would aid the 
advancement of science. Such exten- 
sive privileges had never before been 
granted a traveler. 

He proceeded to South America and 
explored all the mountainous regions, 
volcanoes, great rivers, and natural 
scenery and botany. lb' as ciidcfl the 
highest peaks of t'li.- Amirs, an.l slood 
upon the cloud-caii|H ,1 h, i^lils wliere 
the foot of man had iicy, r l„ fore ven- 
tured. He measured their vast pro- 
portions, and sounded the depths of 
burning volcanoes, weighing them in 
the balance of his mighty mind, giving 
to the world a new revelation. 

After his visit to America, he pub- 
lished a scries of volumes under the title 
of Kosmos, and several other works. 
Agassi/, says of him: "The personal 
intliience he exerted upon science is in- 
calculable. With bini ends a great 
period in tin- liistory of science, a 
])eriod to wliii li ( 'uviir, Laplace, Arago, 
Gay, Lussai-, He Candolle, and Robert 
Brown l.cloni;r,i.'' 

Oct. L'li, (>i., i< nil] of the Erie Canal icith 



First 



factured in the United 



Due} lie) ircen Henry Clay and John Ran- 
(lo/ji/i, caused by personal insults flung 
openly in the Senate Chamlier at Mr. 
Clay, as Secretary of State. Both of 
these illustrious men lived in times 
when, and were educated under a code 
of morals which r. cognized no other 
meansof sati-lVni- in-nlt-.l h.mnr. It 
was much |ir,i(iiir.[ in tlir early days 
of "Southern cliiva'ry," I'ut wliich was 
ever regarded by the cool and more 
philosophical statesmen of the North 
as a pernicious, disliouorable, and 



brutal custom. Mr. Randolph refused 
to retract, and also refused to take the 
life of his antagonist, and resolved not 
to return the fire of Mr. Clay, yet he 
made every preparation lor death, as far 
as his worldly affairs were concerned. 
Upon the cr'ound, the iiisfol of Mr. 
Randolph :M-.i.l.ni,allv wmiI ..If while 



Iiurcly accidental. Two shots were 
exchanged, Randolph's first loilging in 
a stump in the rear of Mr. Clay, and 
the latter's ball striking the earth 
several feet behind Ui. Randolpli. 
The second firing resulted the same, 
except that Mr. Randolph discharged 
his pisti'l in the air. He remarked to 
C..I. Urnton, jii-t after the first fire : " I 
y\nul 1 Hut li,iv( srfi] him fall mortally, 
or oMu dnul.tfilly wounded for all the 
land th.it is watered by the king of 
flood, ami all his trihnla'rv streams." 

.Mr. (lay, upon seeing mV. liandolph's 
pistol (liscliarged in llie icr, a]iproached 

trust in God, my (ieav sir, \on arc un- 
touched ; after what has oecnrrcd, I 
would not have harmed you for a 
thousand worlds." The antagonists 
formally exchanged cards, and their 
relations of courtesy were restored. 
Thus ended an "affair of honor," 
wliieh in the progress of ciyilizatiou 
has become in tlic eyes of all honorable 
men a barbavous and inhuman prac- 
tice. 

Brazilian independence acknowledged 
by Spain. 

Constitution for confederation of Buenos 
Ayres framed. 

Spanish forces driven from Peru. 

Uruguay declared for independence. 

Brazil declared war against the Argen- 
tine Kepublic. 

City of Buenos Ayres blockaded by 
Brazil. 



J^irsf Fire-proof Safes. 

Jesse Delano patented an improvement 
on fire-proof safes of French invention. 

Fell, 'treaty with the Creek Indians con- 
eluded 533 

Treaty with the Kansas Indians .533 

Treat v with the Great and Little 
Osages 533 

May. A general treaty of peace, naviga- 
tion, and commerce between United 
States and the Republic of Colom- 
bia 533 

Qreot I'.rrih III! iitiirer the "3Iorffr!n aff'iiir," 
and ei'eat ojipo^itiou to Freemasonry. 
Poiitical 1 apilal made out of the alleged 
murili r (.>f ilorgan. 

Fuvt rnilruad ill the United States built 
at Quincy, Mass., and operated by 
horse-power. 

Congress piissed a protective tariff, which 
caused much opposition at the South. 

Sand-paper and emery-paper first made 
at Philadelphia. 

First locomotive introduced from England 
by the Delaware and Hudson Canal 
Company, being the first steam-engine 
used in the United States. 

Baltimore and Ohio R. R. begun. 

Cowjress made provision to pay the offieers 
of the Rroolutionnry War r>33 

Names of ''Democrat" and "Repub- 
lican " chosen this year for the parties 
still bearing that name. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



7G1 



Oen. Andreic Jackson and John C. Calhoun 
chosen to fill the offices of President and 
Yicc-Prcsidait. 

Chili adopts a Constitution 537 

Internal war in Mexico. 

Treaty of peace between Brazil and 
Buenos Ayres. 

Gen. Sucre assassinated. 

Brazil declares war against the Argentine 
Kepublic. 

Planing-niill patented by Wm. Wood- 
wortii, of New York. 

Si>ain attempts to regain Mexico. She 
sends a force of 4,000 troops under 
Gen. Barradas. He was forced to 
capitulate, and his troops were sent to 
Havana. 

Mexican independence recognized ly the 
United States. 

Mexico expelled all the natives of Spain 
fiom her territory. 

First coifee plantations started in Costa 
Kica. 

Marisciil Santa Cruz elected President of 
Bolivia ; and a revolution began, last- 
ing ten years. 

Jan. 26. Daniel Webster's great speech 
defending the Constitution 538 

Feb. 30. Resolutions passed by the Vir- 
ginia House of Delegates against the 
United States Tariff Bill. 

May 3. Hail falls in Tuscaloosa, Ala- 
lama, to the depjth of tweUe inches. 

May 17. Death of John Jaij^ at Bedford, 
New York. 

Sept. 15. Slavery abolished in Mexico. 

Nov. 9. Separation of Yucatan from 
Mexico, and union with Central Amer- 
ica. 

Dec. 4. Revolution commenced in Mexico. 



First Asylum for the Blind. 

" Perkins Institute and Massachusetts Asy- 
lum for the Blind established through 
the eftorts of Dr. John D. Fisher, wiih 
Dr. Samuel G. Howe as Director, who 
held the position forty-three years. 

" First Horticultural Society founded in 
this country. 

" President Jackson removed 700 officehold- 
ers, which established the precedent 
since so closely followed. He is 
credited with the saying : " To the 
victor belong the spoils." 
1830. Jan. 20. Bolivar risigns his military and 
civil commissions. 

" Jan. 37. City of Ouatemala nearly de- 
stroyed by earthquake. 

" April 4. Yucatan decl.ires its independ- 
ence. 

" Uruguav adopted a Constitution. 

" Death of Bolivar at San Pedro. 

" South Carolina asserts '^ Stale's Bights.''' 



Rise of Mormonism. 

April C. Mormon Church founded upon 
the supernatural pretensions of Joseph 
Smith, an ignorant, dissolute, but pre- 
tentious young man, who had no repu- 
tation for good in the community where 
he lived, in Palmyra, N. Y. Smith 
was the pretended author of a new rev- 
elation, which he called the " Book of 
Mormon;" or, "Golden Bible." He 
dictated the contents to Oliver Cow- 
dery, while seated behind a blanket 
hung across the room, to keep profane 
eyes from beholding the " sacred rec- 
ords," or metallic plates which he 



claimed to have exhumed by direction 
of the Holy Spirit ! Tliese he professed 
to be reading, with the aid of the 
Urim and Thumuiim — the ancient 
stones revived — by looking through 
which, the strange characters were 
converted into English I The true ori- 
gin of this book is claimed to be the 
manuscript of an eccentric preacher, by 
the name of Spaulding, who became 
involved in debt, and undertook the 
composition of a historical novel, en- 
titled "Manuscript Found;"' by which 
means he hoped to liquidate his debts. 
The MSS. were written in 1813, and 
left in a printing office where Sydney 
Kigdon was a workman. In 1816 Mr. 
t-'paulding died. When the new Bible 
appeared, Mr. Miller, a partner of 
Spaulding, also Mr. Spauldins's wife, 
recognized the plagiarism, and testified 
lo a great portion of the book as being 
the production of Spaulding's pen. 
The characters, names, etc., were ver- 
batim from Spaulding, but mixed up 
with Scripture quotations, together 
with Bible doctrines, and altogether 
forming a book of several hundred 
pages. The main features of th£ Mor- 
mon religion were the pretended " gifts 
of the Church," by which the same 
miracles which were wrought by Christ 
were claimed to be wrought by Smith 
and his apostles, even to the raising of 
the dead. Kirtland, Ohio, became the 
headquarters of the Mormons in 1831, 
and they began rapidly to increase. 
A body of tlieni started a church in 
Jackson Co., Mo., where their num- 
bers increased so rapidly that the old 
settlers becoming alarmed, held pub- 
lic meetings, protecting against the 
invasion of the new sect. The citi- 
zens demanded the suppression of 
their paper, which being refused, it 
was destroyed by a mob. The excite- 
ment prevailed to such an extent, that 
some of their houses were destroyed 
and their leaders whipped, and during 
a fray several lives were lost on both 
sides. Persecutions but strengthened 
the zeal of the fanatics. They moved 
about from place to place, and iinally 
settled down in Nauvoo, 111., where 
they began the erection of a Temple. 
They now took the name of " Latter- 
Day Saints." In 1833 Brigham Young 
was converted to the new faith. In 
1837 the Mormons carried their new 
religion to the Old World, where super- 
stition and ignorance abounded. There 
it flourished and took deep root among 
the lower classes, who have ever been 
the dupes of designing religious pre- 
tenders. The light of reason and edu- 
cation always dispels the dark clouds 
of superstition and bigotry, and no 
sect, founded upon superstition and 
pretended wonders and miraculous 
demonstrations, can longer hope to 
flourish where an open Bible, free 
schools, and a free press abound. In 
1839 the " Latter-Day Saints," under the 
leadership of Smith, united their forces 
and began a settlement and the build- 
ing of their Temple in Nauvoo. Polyg- 
amy was now introduced by "revela- 
tion to Smith," as a special privilege 
to the head of the Church. During 
1843-3-4 Smith was repeatedly arrest- 
ed on charges of murder, treason, and 
adultery, but managed to avert punish- 



lil the summer of 1814, when, 
brother Hiram, he was sent 
r l>v thi- Governor cif Illinois 

y, : '-.yy-x- \v. ■■: v.. r ;,r,v>ted 



into the jail and summarily killed 
them both. Great mourning and 1 im- 
entations went up from the afliicted 
Mormons. Thoy sent word to all the 
faithful far and near, that the ''Lord's 
Prophet" was killed. Brigham Ycmng 
was appointed succe>^sor to Joeph 
Smith, nmch to the chagrin of Sydney 
Kigdon. 

The Mormons were now compelled 
to abandon their ciiy and Temple. 
They proceeded at once to establish 
themselves beyond the bounds of civil- 
izaticm, where they could carry out 
their dark and di vilish designs, and 
lay the foundation of tlnir unholy 
schemes, unmolested by law, order, or 
even decency. A desolate region near 
the shores of the Great Salt Lake was 
chosen for the seat of their city and 
government, for they aspired to no less 
pretensions than the "Veritable King- 
dom of God," and Brigham Young His 
chosen Prophet, Priest, and King, 
temporal, or rukr of the " Saints of 
God" — could mortal man aspire to 
greater dignity or power ? But — 
'■Mirabile dicta,!''— this chief of im- 
postors actually succeeded in establish- 
ing a form of government in the very 
center of the United States, with him- 
self as g-overnor, with laws to suit him- 
self, defying the Government and all 
law and leterference upon the pn tendid 
authority of •' Divine Rividation" and 
'■appointment!" Herein the heart of 
the sri'at wilderness they began to 
build the "New Jerusalem'' — since 
called Salt Lake City. Here they 
flourished like " a green bay tree" and 
imported their devotees from the igno- 
rant and oppressed classes of Eui;ope 
by thousands, under pretense of bring- 
ing them to the "land of promise." 
They rapidly increased until they num- 
bered many thousands, and became a 
teiTor to emigration and civilization. 
Under the disguise of Indians, they 
waylaid whole emigrant trains, rob- 
bing, plundering, and murdering the 
helpless victims at their will. The 
great " Mountain Meadow Ma'isacre," 
designed and prosecuted by the Mor- 
mon leaders, was, after twenty years' 
successful evasion, brought to light, 
and one of its leaders executed by 
United States authorit.v. But it is 
pretty generally believed that Brigham 
Young and his apostles were instru- 
mental in nearly all the depredations 
committed throughout the great plains 
of the West, which were attributed to 
the Indi.ins. One great secret of the 
indiflVnnce of the Government to the 
alarming growth of this monstrosity 
in the heart of her territory, was its 
remoteness from the very borders of 
civilization, and the astounding success 
of its leaders in founding a city and a 
government, populated and improved 
by dint of systematic industry and 
perseverance which challenged the ad- 
miration of all who visited that oasis 
of the Great Desert— the far-famed Salt 
Lake City. The G overnment and mill- 



7C2 



CHRONOLOGY. 



iflk 



iicwspaptr correspond- 
vuti, anil proiniiii'iit men of the nation 
who visited L'tah were feted and flat- 
tered, and sometimes Vowjht xip by 
that great disnitary, Brigham Young, 
who held unlimited sway over a vast 
territory of willing subjects, and who 
controlled, not only the press, the 
schools, and the religion, but the 
finances of a large territory representing 
immense resources and wealth. But 
the onward march of civilization is 
fast accomplishing to-day what a tardy 
Government should have done at the 
start; for no great oppressive power 
can long exist surrounded by the ele- 
ments of freedom. 

" Dec. 0. Building of the South Carolina 
Railroad. 

" American Institute of Learning founded 
in Boston. 

Haffk of the Giants. 

" Great debate in the United States Senate 
between Webster and Hajne, called 
the " Battle of the Giants " 528 

" Charter granted by the Legislature of 
Pennsj Ivania to Col. Stephen Long for 
the American Steam Carriage Com- 
pany. 

" First locomotive iuilt in the United States 
liy Peter Cooper, the ijhilanthropist, 
alter his own design. 
1831. Gniit jHilifieirl excitement over Tariff and 
Free Trade. 

" " The Liberator," an anti-slarcrrj paper, 
started in Bo-ton by \Vm. Lloyd Gar- 
rison. 

" Jan. 12. Remarlalile eclipse of the sun. 

" April 7. Dom Pedro abdicated in favor 
of his son, Pedro II. 



James Monroe. 
Julv 4. Death of James Monroe, fifth 
President of Ibe United States. Mr. 
i\bnir.)e\v:is l»,rn in \V. stmoreland Co., 
\iri;ini:i, April -.'S I 7. "is. At the age 
of l(j lie entered William and Mary 
College, and in ]77(>, when but two 
yeas in college, and upon the adoption 
of the Declanition of Independence, he 
relinquished his studies and hastened 
to Gen. Washington's headquarters in 
New York, and enrolled his name as a 
cadet in the army. In the battle of 
'I'rrnfon, (liirini.' wliirh he was wound- 
ed, he cliMiiiLniish,.! liiniself for his 
bravery, :nid u as piuni..led to the rank 
of Captain. Soon after he received a 
commission as Colonel, but the army 
was so depleted tliat no command could 
be furnished him, and he returned to 
Virginia, and entered the law office of 
Thomas Jeftcrson. In 1782 he was 
elected to the Virginia i\ssembly, and 
appointed a member of the Executive 
touncil. In 1783 Mr. Monroe was 
chosen a delegate to the Continental 
Congress lor a term of three years, 
where he proved himself an efficient 
member, and was instrumental in bring- 
ing al)()ut the General Convention at 
Philadelpliin, which developed the 
)irrs,.ni < '.Mwlitntion. He married a 
]\li,~ K,.iiii-iii, of New York, an intel- 
liuviit aihl a. riiniplished Udy, who, in 
his siiiise(juent high career, was every 
«ay titteu for the companion of so dis- 
tinguished a man. Mr. Monroe was 
a member of the Virginia Convention 



ent. 



As a Repnblieau, ^Ir. Monroe opposed 
every measure which tended to central- 
ize the Government and give it too 
much controlling jinwer over the States. 
He feared tlir trndeiiriis of the people 
toward an aiisl ciai y. In t'le war be- 
tween Franc.' and i:n:_i'and Mr. Monroe 
deeply s.'.nipa'liize.l with Trance, and 
biliciiy o|i|i'wc,l the r.cntralily ])roc- 



L^fuse 



her .aid I,, France ,„ In r si r aiugle with 
the ,lc;|,nlic pouvi-s ..fKun.jic. Presi- 
dent Wasl.inuloii iiiagnaninioiisly ap- 
))oiiited Jauu'.s Monroe as Minister to 
that Government. He was received 
with the most enthusiastic demonstra- 
tions of joyous welcimie. The Presi- 
dent of the National Convention ad- 
drissed him in a congratulatory speech, 
and puiiliclv embraced him at "its close. 
The Hags of the two republics were 
intertwined in the As-crcMy Hall. 
Mr. Monroe's frank ami coidial ni.anner, 
and his open syni|ial!iv willi France 
was so exlrcnielv aii: ci-a . ,., I'.M^land 
and to the IVh n- ..: I ., I md in 
America, thai he !■. ; l i;,;,,- the 
close of A\'asliin-lo;,'., „i;uii;ii..Uation. 
Shortly after his return he was elected 
Governor of Virginia. Mr. Monroe 
was sent to France to negotiate for the 
purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 
connection with Mr. Livingston, the 
Jlinister to France. Their efforts were 
successful. He next visited England 



mieot 



;'rnment i 



Pai'is, and witnessed 'ti' 
Napolc.n Bonajiart.'. 
deavored to settle a boi 
relating to the Loni< 



Fiance, .and 
c. l.nt tailed 
.Mr Monroe 
rl,.rFngland 
he remained 
y which they 

the Govern- 
■s was so un- 

Senate.' Mr. 



clined to snlmiil il lo tlic h 
Monroe now retired to h 
Virginia, where he remained until 
called to the Secretaryship of State un- 
der President Madison. 

Upon the burning and sacking of 
Washington by the British, :\Ir. Mon- 
roe assumed tiie additioaal duties of 
Secretary of War, that ollieer having 
resigned his position, and most effi- 
ciently and nobly he discharged the 
duties of each. The country was in a 
deplorable condition — her treasury ex- 
hausted and credit gone, and in the 
midst of a war with the strongest na- 
tion upon earth. Yet in this terrible 
crisis James Monroe pIe<lLred his own 
individual ere, lit as snbsidi.irv to that 
of his eonnlry, tlicr, l.\ enabling her 
to make a suci-cs-lul d. icnsc against 

all directed to the salvation "and wel- 
fare of his country, and his faithful 
and prompt measures enabled the 



army to triumph gloriously over their 
cruel and inveterate enemy. Upon the 
close of the war Mr. JFonroo resigned 
theSecrefaryslii|i of \\',ar, and continued 
the dischar^i' of th • ,l;it c, ..f Secretary 
of State till th.Mnd ,./ I'lc-idcnt Madf- 
son's adniini.^tra!ion, when he was 
elected to that impi rtant office by a 
large majority. A lietter choice at 
that time could not well have been 
made. He continued in the Presiden- 
tial chair eight year.s, his administra- 
tion giving general satisfaction. He 
m.ade crreat exertion to secme a pen- 
sion lau torewardlhevchran soldiers. 
Jlr. Monroe »,■,- the anile. r of ti.e pa- 
per called ■■Tlie .Monroe liocirine," the 
object of which was "to introduce and 
establish the American system of keep- 
ing out of our land all foreign powers : 
of never pcrnntting those of Europe to 
intermeddle with the affairs of our na- 
tion. It is to nniintain our own princi- 
])lc. not to depart from it,'' and "that any 
attempt on tlie part of the European 
powers l<ic\i(iid their system to any 
])oiti<ai of lliis hemisphere would be 
regard. (1 by the United States as dan- 
gerous to onr piai (■ ami safety." Mr. 
Monroe died a poor man. He gave his 
time so exclasively to his country that 
his iirivide jnlcrests were neglected, 
anil he beciine involved in debts which 
reduced l.im to the estate of a "poor 
man" m wcildly possessions, but his 
wealth of character and reputati(m far 
outweighed the miser's hoarded gains. 
He died at the residence of his son-in- 
law in New York, at the age of seventy- 
three, honored and beloved by a grate- 
ful nation. 

Oct. 1. Free Trade Convention at Phila- 
delphia. 

Get. 26. Tariff Convention at New 
York. 

Miniiiiiig moiriiig-macliine patented (the 
fir^t iisifiil iiiiiiring-macliine ninde). 

Chlnr.'fonii ,1i:^r,,r,red by Samuel Guthrie, 
of Saekelfs Harbor, N. Y. 

Stciim IniffiiHi-iiiocliine first used, at 
Albany, N. Y., by Timothy Bailey. 

Dr. Howe, of New York, invented the 
first practical machine for making pins. 

Confederation of Buenos Ayres, Corri- 
entes, Entre-Rio, and Santa Fe. 

Uruguay became an independent State. 

Limitation of slave trade in iirazil. 

Ecii.ador becomes independent. 

Re|iul)lic of Colombia dissolved. 

Buttons first made by machinery in the 
United States by Joel Ilayden, of Con- 
necticut. 



Gil'bs, the Pirate, E.xecutcd. 

Cnpittire and e.rcrntion of Gihlis, the most 
ni'ted pirate of the centuri/. He was 
called the "Scourge of the Ocean." In 
his confession he stated that he had 
been concerned in robbing over forty 
vessels, and he gave the names of near 
a score of vessels taken by the pirates 
under his command, the crews of 
■which were murdered. 

Western College of Teachers established 
in Ohio by Albert and Joha Picket 
and Samuel Lewis. 

Congress passed a new protective tariff 
bill. Great oppo.sition in the South. 
Soiith Carolina threatened secession. 53S 



CHEONOLOGY. 



7G3 



Gen. Jackson Vetoes Secessmi. 

President Jackson ordered tbe naval and 
military furcos to Charleston to enforce 
the laws, wbicb put an end to tbe se- 
cession 538 

Feb. 6. Attack on Qualla Batoo, in 
Sumatra, by tbe United States frigate 
Putomac. 

First Appearance of Cholera. 

June 8. Cholera at Quebec; tbe first 
case in America. 

June 21. First case of Asiatic Cholera in 
the United St'ites, which scourge swept 
over the entire land, hurrying thou- 
sands into a sudden and terrible 
death 528 

AuCT. 27. Blach Hawh War, and cajiture 
ofBlach Hawh 534 

Sept. 26. University of New York organ- 
ized. 

Andrew Jad'son chosen for President and 
Martin Van Bureii Vice-President. 

Death of Qkarles Carroll of Carrollton, 
tbe last surviving signer of tbe Decla- 
ration of Independence. 

President Jackson vetoed the United States 
Bank hill. 

Dec. 28. John C. Calhoun resigned his 
office as Vice-President. 

Electro-Magnetic Telegraph invented hj 
Professor Morse. (See biography.) 

Asiatic Cholera appeared again in New 
York City, lasting two months, and re- 
sulting in 3,400 deaths. 

Chloroform Invctitcd. 

Dr. Samuel Guthrie first published his 

discovery of chloroform. 
Patent granted to E. & T. Fairbanks for 

their " Hay Scales," or a balance for 

weighing heavy bodies. 
Yellow fever again appeared in New 

York and vicinity, producing a great 

panic. 
Mar. 4. Andrew Jackson inaugurated 

President for a second term. 



Jackson Closes the United States 
Bank. 

President Jackson being informed that 
tbe United States Bank was using 
large sums for political purposes, re- 
moved tbe deposits and closed all 
operations, contrary to the advice of 
Ijis Cabinet, and in direct opposition 
to Congress. Great excitement was 
caused by this act, and two attempts 
were made to take his life. Thomas 
H. Benton and John Forsyth supported 
the President in the Senate, but Clay, 
Calhoun, and "Webster united in the 
opposhion. The name " Whig " was 
adopted by the opposition party. . 533 

The Southern States held a " State's 
Kights" Convention. 

May 3. Congress passed Henry Clay's 
comjiromise tariff law. 

Santa Anna inaugurated President of 
Mexico. 

Cholera broke out among tbe United 
States troops who were engaged 
against the Indians in the West, nearly 
destroying several companies. 

Yellow fever again visits the United 
States in a more virulent form. 

First practical safe invented by J. C. 
Gavler, and called the " Salamander." 



John Randolph. 

May 24. Death of John Kandolph, a dis- 
tinguished United States Senator from 
Virginia. He w.as born in Virginia, 
June 2, 17T3, and was a direct descend- 
ant of, and the seventh generation 
from, Pocahontas, daughter of the In- 
dian Chief Powhattan, and deliverer of 
Capt. John Smitli. Mr. Kandolph was 
an eloquent and eccentric man, and 
was much feared in Congress and also 
ill the Senate, for his sarcastic and 
srathing rebukes and expositions of all 
that he considered trickery and secret 
combinations. He was regarded as 
an upright and straightforward repre- 
sciitalive, and advocated only what he 
belie-ved to be right. 

Removal of several Indian tribes beyond 
the Mississippi. 

First double cylinder printing-press con- 
structed by Hoe & Newton. 

First useful reapers patented. 

Caloric engine invented by John Ericsson. 

First Newsboy. 

First copy of New York Sun printed by 
Bcnj. H. Day, and sold for one cent per 
copy. Its sale on the streets created 
the "first "newsboy" that ever cried in 
the streets of an American city. 

Nov. 13. Great meteoric shoioer l-nown as 
the "falling stars." which created a 
great sensation all over the country. 
Much fear and consternation were ex- 
cited among the superstitious, many 
supposing the '• end of the world " had 
come. 

Chili revised her Constitution. 

Slaves emancipated in Jamaica. The 
planters immediately combined to put 
wages down to the lowest possible rate, 
and increased the rents of the huts 
which the negroes occui)ie(l. The 
negroes deserted the plantations and 
settled in the mountains. The agita- 
tion resulting therefrom threatened a 
revolt against the Government. Chinese 
laborers were imported, but without 
success. 

Flying-Machine. 

A model flying-machine was constructed 
by Rufus Porter, of New Britain, Conn., 
who kept experimenting, until about 
fourteen years later he produced a 
model propelled by steam, which he 
exhibited at Washington and in the 
Merchants' Exchange, New York, and 
a journal of the duy declared "it made 
tlie circuit of the rotunda eleven times 
like a thing animatwl with life." Still 
later he constructed a full working 
machine, but whieb he never completed 
because it was found imiiossible to 
procure a varnish or coating for the 
canvas covering -which would prevent 
the leakage of the gases to an extent 
that wholly destroyed the lifting power 
of the balloon. The balloon was cigar- 
shaped, and a little below was suspended 
a car, conf rming on a small scale to 
the shape of the balloon, which carried 
the motive power for propelling the 
whole, arid was provided with a pair 
of screw propellers and a four-leaved 
rudder. In 1869 Mr. Porter's principle 
was revived, with certain additions, at 
Shell Jlouud Lake, Cal , by Frederick 
Marriot, and operated by a small 



1833. steam-engine. The apparatus worked 
well in a slill atmosphere, butpro>ed 
a failure in brisk winds. 

1834. Mar. Vote of censure by the Senate 
against the President for removing the 
Bank (leposiis, but was soon after ex- 
punged 533 

The whole United States dclit paid off. 
Lucifer matches first made in America. 



First Seunng-Machiuc. 

Si'icino-mnehine invented by Walter Hunt, 
of Ni w Yor-lc, with a curved eye- 
poiiitr.l nci'.llr and shuttle, making a 
l.-ck-slitch; hilt he failed to perfect it 
or t.i uvt a p:it( nt for it. 

Iliised :,lpli;it.i'l invented by Dr. Howe 
for the use nl lllc liliud. 
5. Bciar/.,,/./,' vnl.l iriiiter all over the 
Uniti-d States — snow falling in the 
Southern JStates one foot deep ; orange 
and fig trees 100 years old were killed. 

Congress established branch mints in 
Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiv 
ana. 

The Cherokees sold their land to Gov- 
ernment for .15,200,000. 

April 18. French indemnity bill passed 
the Chamber of Deputies. 

May. A'ew York Herald estahUshed by 
James Gortlon Bennett. Sec biog- 
r.iphy. 

July 0. Death of Chief Jti,<^ice Marshall, 
who had filled this high office nearly 
35 years. 

Roger Brooke Taney, of Maryland, ap- 
pointed to fill his place. 

Renewal of war with the Seminole In- 
dians, which lasted seven years longer, 
and cost the Government $15,000,- 
000 533 

Great Fire in Nc70 York. 

Dec. 16. Great fire in New Yor'K city; 
123,000,000 worth of property burned. 

Mexican Constitution abrogated, and the 
Confederation of States consolidated 
into a republic, with Santa Anna Presi- 
dent and Dictator. 

Repulilic of Central America dissolved, 
and the separate Republics of Guate- 
mala, Honduras, San Salvador, and 
Co,-ta Rica formed. 

Illuminating gas first introduced into the 
city of Philadelphia. 

First gold pens, with diamond points, 
made by Levi Brown, a Detroit watch- 
maker. 

Guano fir.st became an ar'iclc of com- 
merce in the United States. 

Dec. 28. Maj. Dade and his command 
massacred in Florida. 

Gen. Thompson and his companions were 
also murdered. 

Arkansas admitted into the Union. 

April 21. Battle of Sau Jacinto, in Tex- 
as. Santa Anna defeated and taken 
prisoner. 

Berpiest of James Smith-on to the United 
States, oi' S".l,";.l(;'.l fill- tlie "geneial 
dill'i!>inn nl kn.iwK-li;.' among men." 
The .\mithsiii,i,in Inslirut. at Wadiing- 
ton was founded with the proceeds of 
this bequest. 



> 



Afadiso 



June 2S. Death of .Tames Madison, fourth 
I'rciident of the United States. Jlr. 
Madison was born in Orange County, 



764 



CHRONOLOGY. 



183(i. Virginia. lie graduated at Princeton 
College at the age of twenty, with 
a (Minslitution enfeebled with con- 
st;int study, but with a cliaraoter of 
111 1 1 plr mi she 1 jiurity, and a mind richly 
stciriMl uilii all that makea youth at- 
frartive and lionorable. Being natu- 
rally (if a liberty-loving nature, and 
also highly endowed with religious 
sentiments, he early gave liis mind to 
theological study. He soon, however, 
became strongly impressed with the in- 
tolerance of Church power in this 
country. He saw the injustice of in- 
discriminate taxiition to support the 
Established Church of England. His 
first public etl'orts were directed against 
this o])pressi()n. With Thomas JciTer- 
son he fought for religious liberty. 
1'he battle was fierce, and the oppo- 
nents of religious intolerance were 
denounced as the enemies of Christi- 
anity. But liberty triumphed, and re- 
ligious freedom was established in Vir- 
ginia. 

In 177G he became a member of the 
Virginia Convention to frame the Con- 
stitution of the State. He lost the 
election to the General Assembly the 
next year because he refused to treat 
the whisky-loving voters. In 17^0 he 
was elected a member of the Conti- 
nental Congress, and was immediately 
assigned to a conspicuous place. In 
17b7 he was an eminent member of 
the great National Ccmvcntion. Mr. 
Madison was one of the leading spirits 
in calling this convention, and also in 
bringing aljout the great and all-im- 
)ortant result — tlie "Constitution of 
the- United States." When this inval- 
uable document; was to be submitted 
to the people of the United States, Mr. 
Madison was selected to write the ad- 
ilrcss, expounding its principles and 
urging its adoption. 

In ITDii Mr. Madison found himself 
fast drifting to the side of the Repub- 
lican party. Yet he was so courteous 
and c<inscientions in all his manners 
ami imasures that he retained the con- 
lidcnie of his former party friends. 
In IT'.IJ he was the avowed leader of 
Ihr ]!(|)ul>licau I larly in Congress. In 
iT'.iT it ua^ tl r wish of many that Mr. 
Madison shniild become the candidate 
for rn-s.dciit, but he declined the hon- 
or. Mr. Jeflerson wrote, C(mceming 
his qualifications for the position, 
" There is not another person in the 
ITuited States with whom, being placed 
at till' Inliii of our atl'airs, niy mind 
would lie so coiniibtely at rest for the 
fortune of our jxiliticiil liark." 

At the .age of 43 he married the ac- 
complished Mrs. Todd, who was the 
belle of New York. She proved to be 
a worthy companion of so distingnishcd 
a m.an, and was a t;ri-at aitiaction and 
social power at tlic "Whili' Itniise," 
and in the society at Wasliin^ton, as 
the wifeof tlie President. 

Upon the election of Thomas Jeffer- 
son to the Pu'sidency he appointed 
3Ir. TMadisou Secretary of State. He 
discharged the duties of this responsi- 
ble office during the eight years of 
Mr. Jeflerson's administrat'on. Mr. 
Jefferson lieing a widower, Mrs. Madi- 
s(ni was called upon to discharge the 
duties and honors required of the 
mistress of the Presidential mansion. 



at tiie samr liiiio Il:ns,- true womanly 
instincts and that IreLilom of manner 
wliicli drew all hearts to her witli a 
truly magnetic attraction. She never 



L-ry 



lt.tr 



husband and of thr administration 
were rcceiveJ witli a welronie and cor- 
diality that made them forget tlie bit- 
tiriu-ss of jiarty strife in tlie presence 
of tliis noble and truly acc<unplishcd 
woman. Upon the close of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's second term, Mr. Madisnn was 
elected to till his place. He was also 
elcrti'd fir a second term in the midst 
of till' war w iili England, during which 
tlic riiv of Washington was invaded 
by I'.iilisli troo|is, and the President 
and Lis lamilv wliv (aHniH-llrd to tlee. 



inj;s w.ir hiirned. In |sir .Mr. Madi- 
son retired from tlie Presidential chair, 
and repaired to his beautiful home 
at Montpelier, where he spent the re- 
mainder of bis days in the quietude 
and peace of a rural home. He died 
at the age of 85 years, and his memory 
was treasured with love and gratitude 
by the nation he had so long served. 

Oct. Gov. Call, of Georgia, invades the 
Seminole country. 

Oct. 23. Sam. Houston elected President 
of Texas. 

Nov. Martin V.ni Burcn elected Prcsi- 
iJciit, and Ilicliard JI. Johnson Vice- 
President. 

Dec. 15. Burning of the general Post- 
oiBce and Patent office at Washington. 

Texas declared independent. 

Pern - Bolivian confederation formed 
under the Presidency of Santa Cruz, a 
Bolivian. 

Trial of Jlk-Mrd P. RoUiuonfor the mnr- 
Jer of Miss Helen Jeicett, a beautiful 
courtesan of New York. 

Samuel Colt invented his famous re- 
volver. 

First National Temperance Convention, 
held at Saratoga, N. Y. 



/. Q. Adams' Great Debate. 

Jijlin Quinccy Adams^ eleven days' conflict 
for the right of petition, in Congress. 
Single-handed and alone Mr. Adams 
founlit this great battle, and achieved 
for tlu! American people a victory 
which slidiild be commemorated while 
the mition lias an existence. 

Brail, nf Aaron Jiiirr. 

Sioux and Winnebago Indians sold their 
lands and went beyond the Mississippi 
Kivcr. 

Gen. Scott subdued the Creek Indians in 
(ieorgia. 

Wm. Crimipton, of Worcester, Mass., in- 
venti'd the " fancy loom," which pro- 
duced figures in weaving. 

Jan. 20. iMichigan admitted into the 
Union. 

Mai/iiijieent display of aurora iorealis. 
The whole arch of the heavens was 
covered with a canopy of brilliant and 
various hued rays, converging in the 
zenith in a deep red color. 'Ibis phe- 
nomenon was witnessed in nearly every 
part of the United States. 

Okk.^t fin.\nciai, CR.\sn and pakic. 
250 houses in New York stopped pay- 



ment during' the first three weeks in 
A]iril. i'ailiirrs in New Orleans in two 
days reaclie.l ::;L';,Oiin,nO(). Eight States 
fiileil, and the United States could not 
pay its debts. 
Peru decliiivd war against C'hili, and also 
became iiivohicl in civil war. 

utionary jjro- 



■>id. 



Me 



Ma 



Martin Van 



0)ii;;in of the Express Business. 

The express business originated in the 
United States with Wm. T. Harnden, 
a young man who carried parcels from 
New York to Boston in a satchel, lie 
soon procured a trunk, and in a short 
time an " Kx]iress dllice " was estab- 
lished in both citii s, with mc-sencers 



Commencement of the Canadian rebel- 
lion. 

First zinc produced in the United States, 
at the United States .\rscnal at Wash- 
ington, and found in larur (piantities 
in N.'w York and IVniisvh ani.a. 

Dtlrl l:,hr,,i, \y. J. I,' r,ir, /,,„,/ .Jutiathan 

('ill.:,. boMi .Mcmbrrs of Congress. 



.n to llie. South Pole 
md (■)■ ( 'aiit, Ctiaries 



loll, 



jiension of tlie majority of the banks in 

the United States, causing a great 

panic. 
Peace restored between Chili and Peru, 

and Gamara chosen President of Peru. 
Mormon war in Missouri. 



Log-Cabin Campaign. 

Great political excitement. The AVhigs 
nominate Wm. Henry Harrison fir 
President, which introduced the " Log- 
Cahiu Campaign." 

Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized 
rubber. 

Siege of Montevideo began, lasting nine 
years. 

Honduras became an independent Re- 
public. 

Continued revolution in Mexico ; the 
Constitution suspended. 

Peru-Bolivian confederation overthrown. 



First Ste, 



Fire-Eng 



John Ericsson, a Swedish engineer, per- 
fected the first steam fire-engine in the 
United State=, for which he received 
the great gold medal from the Me- 
chanics' Institute. He had been in 
this country but one year at the time. 
Mr. Ericsson planned and superin- 
tended the building nf the first "J/wt!'- 
ior," at Greenpoint, N. Y., which at 
its first trial disabled the iron-clad ram 
"llen'imac." 

June 30. Sub-Treasury bill became a 
law. 

First Washingtonian Society, founded 



CHRONOLOGY. 



7G5 



upon "total abstinence," established in 
Baltimore by sis men of intemperate 
habits, and a"t its first anniversary 100 
reformed drunkards marched in pro- 
cession. 

Adams' Express Company founded. 

Nov. Gen. Harrisira elected President, 
and .John Tyler Vice-President. 

Death of Francia, Dictator of Paraguay. 

Dom Pedro H. crowned Emperor of 
Brazil, at the age of fourteen years. 

Antarctic Continent discovered by Capt. 
Wilkes. 

Mar. 4. Inauguration of Gen. Harrison 
as rresi'leut. 



Win. Henry Harrison. 
April 4. Death of Wm. Henry Harrison, 
the ninth President of the United 
States. Mr. Harrison was born in Vir- 
ginia, on the banks of the James River, 
the 9th of February, 1773. His lather 
was one of the distinguished men of 
his day, and an intimate friend of 
George Washington. He was a mem- 
ber of the Continental Congress, a true 
patriot, and one of the signers of the 
Declaration of Independence, and sub- 
sequently Governor of Virginia. Wil- 
liam Henry was a graduate of Hamp- 
den Sidney College, and upon leaving 
college he began the study of medicine 
with Dr. K.ish, in Philadtlphia, but 
upon the outbjeak of the Indian depre- 
dations on the Western frontier he 
abandoned his studies and repaired to 
the scene of action, and offered his 
services, having previously received a 
commission of ensign from President 
Washington. He was then but nine- 
teen years of age. This was soon after 
the disastrous defeat of Gen. St. Clair, 
which spread consternation over the 
whole frontier. He was soon promoted 
for his valor to the rank of Lieutenant 
under Gen. Wayne, and was with him 
when he fought the Indians at Maumee 
and utterly routed them, driving them 
from their old fighting ground and 
causing them to sue for peace. The 
young Lieutenant was soon after pro- 
moted to the rank of Captain, and 
placed in command at Fort Washing- 
ton. In 1797 Mr. Harrison resigned 
his commission in the army, and was 
appointed Secretary of the North 
western Territory, and ex officio Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, under Gen. St, Clair, 
who was then Governor of the Terri- 
tory. He was sent as a Delegate to 
Congress from the Northwestern Terri 
tory, and in the spring of 1800 he was 
appointed Governor of the Indian Terri 
tory, and immediately after also Gov- 
ernor of Upper Louisiana. He was tli us 
Governor of almost as extensive a realm 
as any sovereign upon the globe, besides 
being Superintendent of Indian Aflairs. 
His faithful an;l able discharge of these 
responsible duties caused him to be 
four times elected to this ofiice. While 
Superintendent of Indian Affairs he 
was sole Commissioner, and effected 
thirteen treaties with the Indians, by 
which the United States acquired si.xty 
millions of acres of land. He had 
ample opportunities to enrich himself, 
but he never held a single acre of land 
except through a legitimate and legal 
title, and it was said of him " that no 
man ever disbur-ed so large an amount 



of public treasure with so little diffi- 
culty in adjusting his accounts." In 
October, 1813, Indian hostilities be- 
came so open that Governor Harrison 
made every preparation for defense 
and marched to the Indian encamp- 
ment on the Tippecanoe Kiver, to 
bring about if possible a peaceable set- 
tlement with them. Tecumseh and 
his brother, the Prophet, were at the 
head of all the hostile tribes. Governor 
Harrison arrived within three miles of 
tlieir encampment, when three Indians 
made tlieir appearance, demanding his 
intentions. After a short conference, 
.nrrangements were made for a Council 
with "the Chief the following day. 
Before day the Indians in full fon-e, 
led by the "Prophet," nttncked the 
troops. But Gen. Harrison, knowing 
tlie treachery of their character, was 
fully prepared for the attack, and the 
victory over the savages was complete. 
He was himself twice hit, but not 
severely wounded, and one horse was 
disabled under him. This achieve- 
ment greatly added to his reputation. 
After the war with England was fully 
inaugurated, Governor Harrison was 
appointed by President Madison Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Northwestern 
Army. His campaign w.as a difficult and 
hazardous one, and involved a vast 
amount of suffering among his troops, 
and required the greatest energy and 
valor of their commander. The British 
trooiis were allied with the Indians, and 
what cruel and treacherous devices their 
savage natures were incapable of in- 
venting, their more civilized and Chris- 
tian allies su|iplie'.l, to torture and 
bring to a lingering and terrible death 



groat vi. tory, the l)attlc of the Thames, 
which gave jjoiice to ti.c fr iitier, and 
in which Tecumseh, the aeknoivl- 
edged Chief aud warrior of all the 
hostile tribes, was killed, was fought 
under Gen. Harrison's immediate com- 
nuvnd. Upcm the close of the war he 
was ajipointed to treat with the Indian 
tribes, which negotiations he conducted 
so skillfully as to secure the approba- 
tion of both the Government and the 
Indians. In 1816 Gen. Harrison was 
chosen a Member of the National 
House of Representatives for the Dis- 
trict of Ohio. In 1819 he was elected 
to the Senate of Ohio, and in 1824 to 
the Senate of the United States. In 
the latter part of 1828 John Quincey 
Adams appointed Gen. Harrison Minis- 
ter Plenipotentiary to the Republic of 
Colombia, but through personal ani- 
mosity Gen. Jackson, upon his inaugu- 
ration, recalled him. Upon his return 
he retired to his farm in North Benrl, 
Ind., where he remained tmtil again 
asked to serve his countrv in the office 
of their Chief Magistra'c". In is:5ti he 
was made a candidate for the Presi- 
dency, but the opposition party elected 
their candidate, Martin Van Buren. 
In 1840 Gen. Hanison was elected 
President by an overwhelming majority. 
Never was there a more popular candi- 
date with "the people." His Cabinet 
was a most able and brilliant one, with 
Daniel Webster at its head as Secretary 
of State. His prospects were most 
flattering and the hopes of the country 
unbounded. But in the midst of all 



these prospects. Death, the great enemy 
of all human kind, and the great lev ler 
of all distinctions, with one fell blow 
blasted the nation's hope, and sent to 
an untimely grave one of her noblest 
and most illustrious heroes. President 
Harrison died the 4th day of .April, 
just one month after his triumphant 
and mo>t happy ii.auguration. His 
last words, though uttrred in delirium 
as though specially addressed to his 
successor, are well befitting the man, 
and couid have been no more wisely 
chosen if uttered in the full possession 
of his mind : 

" Sir, I wish you to understand tho 
piinciples of the Government : I wish 
them carried out. I ask nothing 
more" 53<) 

April 6. Inauguration of John Tyler as 
President 536 

^Vchstefs Dictionnry a]ipi'(ired. 

Aug. 9. Sub-Treasury bill repealed. 

Aug. 18. Bankruptcy act beeame a law. 

Upper and Lower Canada utiited in one 
Government. 

Servile insurrection in Brazil, and war 
with Buenos Ay res. 

Cold-blooded murder of Samuel Adams 
by John C. Colt, in New York. 

Imprisonment for debts due the United 
States abolished. 

New York "Thibune" established by 
HouACE Greeley. 

Bunler Ilill Monument completed; great 
eelcbrati(m. 

War with the Seminoles terminated- 

Lvcifer matches first made l>y machinery. 

Attcmi)t3 to re-establish a National Bank 
vetoed by the President 537 

Dorr's BchclUon in Rhode Island in sup- 
port of a new Constitution and the 
rights of suffiage. It was soon put 
down. 

Mormonism became prominent and re- 
ceived large accessions to its numbers. 

i'ar. 3. liankrupt Act repealed. 

Aug. 9. Treaty of Washington negoti- 
ated by Daniel Webster and Lord Ash- 
burt(m, defining our north-eastern 
boimdary, and for suppressing the 
slave trade and giving up fugitive 
criminals. This closed the Aroostook 
war. 

Oct. 2. Death of Dr. Chanmng. 

Boycr was expelled from Hayti, and it 
was formed into an independent re- 
public under the name of .'^^anto Do- 
mingo. 

Fremont's Expedition. 

Fremont made his first expedition to the 
Rocky Mountains. He explores the 
Great West, and discovers the South 
Pass, that wonderful gateway to the 
golden shores of the Pacific. 

Thomas Kii>(iford produced his first sam- 
ple of pure corn starch. His great 
starch factory at Oswego now produ< es 
21, -500,000 lbs. annually, or 3'> tons a 
day. Average number of workmen 
700. 

]\[utiny in the A'avy. 

First mutiny in the United States Navy 
instig;ited by Jlidshipman Spencer, son 
of alTiiited" States Cabinet oliicer, on 
board (he United States brig-ol-war 
Soiricrs. Capt. A. S. McKenzie. Spen- 
cer and his comrades were hung to the 
yard arm. 



7CG 



CHKONOLOGY. 



Fourier Excitement. 



sluirii of many of its i';iii;itic:il anil ri- 
diculous fealurt's. and miiiiberud amonj,' 
its ailvoratcs many iiitillini'ut and eu- 
ti i|irisini;- 1 ili/,i n^." Coniiminities were 
cstaiilislir.l in .liiriiTiit States, which, 
l(ir a time, Ihiiviil rapiilly, Ijut which 
soon fell into disrepute. The most ex- 
tensive of these was in Genesee Co., 
New York, and among its membership 
wore some of the leading literary char- 
acters of the day. But perhaps the 
most successful one in pointof har- 
mony and age was that established at 
t'l ifseo. Wis. One was established in 
Mirhiuan, called the Adelphi Phalan.f, 
to wliirh over 3,000 members belonged, 
but it soon fell under its own weight. 
Tlie North American Phalanx, of New 
Jersey, was for a short time considered 
the " Star Community." Horace C4ree- 
ley and several other prominent New 
Yorkers were stockholders. But this 
also suffered the tate of all the others, 
and died s. prcmaiiire death. 

The End of the World. 
Great and extensive excitement, caused 
by the preaching of William Miller, 
that the speedy coming of Christ was 
at hand. This plain, simple New En- 
gland farmer bscame impressed from 
reading the Scriptures and the history 
of nations that the projiliecies whicli 
foretold the second coming of Christ 
were speedily to be fuliilled. The 
manner of his preaching was simple in 
the extreme. He read from the pro- 
phetic wiitings, and compared the de- 
scriptions with events in the world's 
history, and made his applications in 
a cooi and candid manner. But the 
topic was so intensely interesting, and 
the occasion, manner, and earnestness 
of the speaker aroused such a spirit of 
solemnitv, that the great majority of 
candid li'stiiiers were deeply impressed 
Willi ilii' tiullifu!ness of the speaker 
ami his sul'jict. His great error con- 
sisted in seitiug the time for the com- 
ing of Christ, unci as many of his fol- 
lowers were fanatics, they brought dis- 
repute upon their leader aud the doc- 
trines he advocated by their extrava- 
gant conduct. After the passage of 
the "time," Mr. Miller was the subject 
of extensive ridicule and ] persecution. 
But. those personally ai(|ii:iinted with 
him and his teaeliing, held him in 
great respect for his ii insistent and 
Christian character. This Bible-reader 
was advertised from one end of the 
world to the other, as "setting the day 
for tlie Lord to coaie and burn up the 
world ! '' and his followers were de- 
scribed as a " band of lunatics, wearing 
lonj!; white robes, ready to ascend at tlie 
sight of every white cloud floating in 
the lieavens." That there were many 
fanatics among these sincere and 
worthy people no one would deny, 
and perhai)s a few became really in- 
sane, but that one-tenth part of the 
mischief and absurd theories attriljuted 
to them was true, no intelligent per- 



son 
Mr. 
lisl 
1''-' 


acquain 
Miller « 

v\ a 1" 


ted 
ill f 


with the ti'iehings of 
,i,n Ml. Milhr'pub- 
,f bctu.rs u|irm the 
niel. which were then 
n:dn by all those who 
:1 interpretation of tlie 


\\ 






ijiOO to Samuel F. B. 
a his telegraph lines— 


,)(. 


nTnp'tl 




]ih <\rj,n-Tit!,m to the 
Ore-Mill, ;i!id from that 
illamrt Viilirv to Kla- 



anil cold, over granite peaks and 
through deep ravines, without trail, 
and March 0, 1844, he reached the 
southern slope of the Sierras. 

Great Comet of 1843. 
lar. Sudden aiipearanee of a great 



lot, jirc 



till 



ami ^t irilrd ilie rouiiti-y by its sudden 
ami l.nlliiint mlvriil. .Alany regarded 
it as a siL^ii of the coming end of the 
world, and others of revolution or war. 
It was visible to the naked eye for 
weeks, when it suddenly disappeared. 

Death of Noah Webster, aaiXiox of the Dic- 
tionary. 

First patent for fire-proof fafe (Wildcr's). 
Patent granted to Daniel Fitzgerald. 

Chili established a colony at Port Fam- 
ine, Patagonia. 

Feb. 28. Ex}ih>sion of the ^' Peacemaker," 
a large gun on board the Princeton, 
killing the Secretary of State, Abel P. 
Usher, and Secretary of the Navy 
Thomas W. Gillman 537 

First Treaty with China. 
Commercial treaty with China, negotiated 
by Caleb Cushman, being the first treaty 
iiiade by China with any Christian na- 
tion 538 

First Telegraph Line. 

Flnt telegraph line, stretched from Wash- 
ington to Balfiniore. The first messag( 
srnt, '-rulinhi irliKt (_!,<,} hath wrought.'" 

Fii"! inili-x!'ir, n/ iiiii-l ii/iife nominated 
iiir I'rcsidrnt,' .James G. Birney, of 
Michigan, who received 170 votes. 

Mexico resumes her Constitutional Gov- 
ernment, with Santa Anna President. 

Lopez becomes Dictator of Paraguay. 



Tisho/s Onderdo 
of t 



nk. 



Trials and suspension of the Bishops 
Onderdonk, of tlie E|iisropal Church, 
for immoral conduct imd dnnikenness. 
The Mhhi><, a small In], -nil -rlinimer, pro- 
pelled bv sl.-im-«..ikiii- MTcws, was 
the first Ai.M riraii -tr:i,i:lMi:,t that went 
round tin t .qi- .'fd-iHl II. ,1,,.. 
8. Insurrcctiniis <if tlir ncgroi s suppressed 
in Cuba, and during the latter year 
In.noO negroes perislied. 
Annexation of Texas was the campaign 

question of this year 5*58 

James K. Polk elected President and 
George M. Dallas Vice-President.. 538 

Mormon War. 

Jbirmon war in Illinois. Murder of 

Joseph Smith, the Mormon Proiijiet, 



and selection of Brigham Young to fill 

his place. 
Co)qicr excitemerit in Michigan. 
Miction of Polk announced hij telegraph, 

the first news item conveyed over the 

wires. 
Lake Superior copper mines opened, one 

of which — the Calumet, and Hecia — 

yielded in 1873, S,01)n tons of pure 

copper, worth $.")(I0 per ton. 

Texas admitted into the Union 53!) 

Mar. 3. Florida admitted into tlio 

Union. 
Jlar. 4. Inawjuration of James K. Polk 

as President. 
July 4. Texas framed a new Constitu- 
tion, preparatory to admission as a 

State. 
Naval School at Annapolis opened. 

Howe's Seiving-Machine. 

Elias Howe produced his first sewing- 
machine. (See biography). 

Texas admitted as a State. Mexico takes 
.iffcnse. 

Qr.al dr.: i:i PitUlnirg. Pa. 

Fire in New ^'ork. 300 buildings hurne I. 

Ih'aUi ,>f dnxiph Ktory, the great jurist. 

Files first made in the United States. 

Ecuador received a Constitution. 

Castilla made President of Peru. 

Auu'. Gen. Zaclnry Taylor advanced 
with 4.000 soldiers to Corpus Christi, 
the western boundary of Texas. . . . 539 

Great Britain and France united with 
Brazil in an attack upon Buenos Ayres. 
-7. Slave trade iu Cuba almost entirely 
suppressed. 

Santo Domingo. 
:. First negotiation relating to the annex- 
ation of Santo Domingo, a Democratic 
measure which had in view the acqui- 
sition of shiM' tiirilory in the 'West 
Indies to balincc tlie increase of free 
States in the North ; but they were de- 
terred from pushing this measure 
through fear of the disastrous results of 
adding a Republic in which the negroes 
were free and their equality recognized 
by law to a Republic where they were 
held as slaves, and having no social or 
pohtical rights as citizens. The first tit- 
tempt was made by President Polk, 
through Mr. Hogan as Commissioner to 
the Islands, and resulted favorably as to 
its importance as a financial measure; 
but the freedom and social equality of 
the negro threw a damper upon the zeal 
of its slave-holding and Democratic 
friends. In 1854 Capt. George B. Mc- 
Clellan was commissioned to visit the 
Island, but with a similar though more 
favorable result. The necessity of an 
American naval station in the West 
Indies brought up the questicm in a 
more important light; and therefore, 
in 18G7, Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, 
and a nuuil)er of officers visited the 
Dominican capital, and had an inter- 
view with the authorities, but any 
further action was postponed in view 
of more important projects of annexa- 
tion by the Johnson Administration. 
Under the Administration of Gen. 
Grant the subject was again brought to 
notice by overtures from the Baez Gov- 
ernment, which had control of the Bo- 
public; but the unfortunate purchase 
of Alaska, together with the recent 
disastrous earthquake in Santo Do- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



7G7 



mingo, caused a reaction against the 
acquisition of territory. Ancithcr effort 
was made by President Grant, through 
Gen. E. 0. Babcock, and the project of 
a treaty signed by the Doiuiuicau Gov- 
ernment, a"nd ra'itied by the l)ominican 
people, signed also by the U'asliington 
Administration, awaited ratificalion 
by the Senate, but a stormy opposition 
was developed, and it lingered until it 
expired by its own limitation. While 
the measure was pending, a very im- 
portant and responsible Conimi-sii>n 
was appointed and committed lo Benj. 
F. Wade of Ohio, Andrew D. White 
of New York, and Samuel ,T. Howe of 
Massachusetts, aided by Judge Burton, 
ex-Minister to Bogota, uith^Frederiek 
Douglas and Gratz Brown as Secre- 
taries, to visit and make a thorough 
survey and examination of tlie Island 
and make out a report. This company 
sailed Jan. 17, 1871, and tlieir work 
was prosecuted with great cire, and 
accomplished within ninety days, and 
their report was published in Congress, 
but for various reasons the enterprise 
was abandoned. 

Andrew Jackson. 

June 8. Death of Andrew Jackson, 
seventh President of the United States. 
Born in the wilderness of South Caro- 
lina in 1765, in the midst of the most 
abject poverty, and under circum- 
stances of peculiar sadness — ^jnst three 
weeks after the death of his father. 
'Jhere is nothing but hardship an<l 
privation of the keenest character to 
record of the early life of this great 
man — great in deeds and character 
.alone — ^for earth's blessings and boun- 
ties were most scrupulously denied 
him. He was fourteen years of age 
when Cornwallis with his army rushed 
upon the little settlement of Waxlianl, 
where he was born, and where he lived 
with his mother, and where but a short 
time before his eldest brother had 
died in the heat and exhaustion of 
battle, when Tarteton invaded the 
Carolinas. The settlers fled for their 
lives, but returned to their ravaged 
homes a few months after, when a 
band of Tories attacked at midnight 
the house of a Whig. Andrew and his 
brother were there among the guard, 
wliere he displayed great bravery for 
a boy of his years. This was liis tirst 
experience in military service, but for 
whicli he paid very dearly, as Corn- 
wallis sent a detachment to aid tlie 
Tories, which captured the band, and 
Andrew and his brother were taken pris- 
oners, and carried to Camden, South 
Carolina. They were brutally treated, 
aud exposed to every indignity. The 
small-pox broke out in their c 'iitracted 
camp, and Andrew and his brotlur 
fell victims to it. His mother hasteneil 
to their aid, and succeeded in deliver- 
ing them from danger, and had ju.st 
reached home with her sick boys, after 
a journey through forty miles of wil- 
derness upon horseback, when the elder 
one died. As Andrew was recovering, 
the sons of her sister, prisoners at 
Charleston, were also sick with the 
dreadful scourge, and she hastiued to 
their relief. She soon fell sick nnd 
was buried in an unknown grave, and 



a little bundle of her clotliing was all 
that remained to the poor orphan boy. 
Homeless, without father or mother, 
brother or sister, and without a dollar 
he could call his own, this boy of four- 
teen years was thrown upon the world 
to battle with its inhospitalde elements. 
Pjut as weeds thrive more rapidly than 
the cultured plant, so this neglected 
and friendless boy, destitute of a 
uujther's love and everything needful 
for his jihysical and moral comfort and 
culture, grew up amid poverty, igno- 
rance, and vice; an adept in all that 
constitutes the "rough " and the "bul- 
ly ; " and was considered the most rol- 
licking, reckless rowdy in the ct untry. 
At the age of eighteen he resolved to 
study law. He could barely read and 
wr tc, and knew a little of arithmetic, 
but was thoroughly versed in card- 
playing, horse-racing, and profanity, 
lie remained in the law-office of Mr. 
IMcCoy, of Salisbury, N. C, two years, 
but he did uot trouble the law-books 
much. He spent the most of his time 
with horses, and among his rude com- 
panions. But notwithstanding his 
vices and recklessness, he displayed 
some rare traits of character. He spent 
a year after leaving the law office in a 
country store as clerk, waiting for an 
opening to practice his profession. At 
this time the Indians were becoming 
very hostile, and the remote settlcTnents 
beyond the AUeghanies were exposed to 
their savage fury. Nashville was then 
a distiict of Washington County, the 
present State of Tennessee. Andrew 
Jackson was appointed public prose- 
cuior for that district. It was an office 
of little honor and great peril, and few 
could be found brave enough to accept 
it. Jackson, with a band of emigrants 
numbering nearly one hundred, includ- 
ing women and children, all mounted 
on horseback, with baggage carried 
on paek-horsps, started upon the jour- 
ney to Nashville. Following an Indian 
trail, they began their march into the 
wilderness. One night, while Jackson 
was standing sentinel, he detected the 
Indians in ambush near the camp. He 
silently aroused the sleeping emigrants 
and they stole softly away, and es- 
caped. An hour after they left the 
camp, a party of hunters came and 
halted for the night in the same spot. 
Before dawn the Indians surprised 
and killed all hut one. 

Pleaching Nashville, young Jackson 
began the practice of law. It was 
the c'nef p irt of his duty as a prose- 
cutor to collect del)ts. This exposed 
him to bad and dangerous men. The 
country swarmed with hostile Indians, 
and Jackson's travels through the wilds 
of Tennessee, between the places where 
the courts were held, a distance of 300 
miles, were amid pathless forests where 
ho WbS liable to be shot at any moment. 

But Andrew Jackson knew no fear. 
He was a rough and daring adventu- 
rer, and inured from earliest infancy 
to danger and to hardship. When 
Tennessee became a State, she was en- 
titled to but one member in Congress, 
and Andrew Jackson was <'li(iscn to 
illl that seat. His rnii.:li m i[in-r> mid 

dress and peculiar y \ , i- it mce 

attracted much attin i 'ini.uiil- 

phia, the seat of Aiueiicui culuiiu aud 



aristocracy. Jackson was a bold and 
earnest advocate of the Democratic 
party, and a resolution was passed by 
Congress, which was warmly advocated 
by Jackson, that the National Govern- 
ment should pay the expen.ses of an 
expedition which Tennessee had fitted 
out against the Indians, contrary to 
the pohcy of the Government. The 
passage of this resolution made him 
popular in Tenne-see, and he was 
elected a member of the United States 
Senate. But his rashness and irasci- 
ble temper made him unpopular in 
Congress. In 1798 he resigned his 
scat and returned to Tennessee. He 
was soon after chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, and filled the 
otiice satisfactorily as far as his judi- 
cial decisions were ccncerned; but be- 
coming entangled in a quarrel with the 
Governor he resigned, and soon after 
was chosen Major-General of militia. 
About this time an unfortunate affair 
took place, which blighted the fame 
of General Jackson, and for a time 
greatly injured his popularity. In a 
quarrel with a young lawyer by the 
name of Dickei son, Jackson challenged 
him to a duel, and insisted upon an 
immediate fight. Dickerson had the 
first fire, but which only broke one of 
Jackson's ribs. Then Jackson, taking 
deliberate aim, was about to fire, when 
appalled by the sure fate awaiting him, 
Dickerson fell back a step, when Jack- 
son's second shouted, "Back to the 
mark, sir." The doomed man stepped 
to his place ; Jackson again taking cool 
and deliberate aim, pulled the trigger, 
but the pistol did not po off. He exam- 
ined and re-adjusted it, and the third 
time, with unrelenting coolness and de- 
liberation, shot him through the body. 

The unfortunate victim of this cruel 
and barbarous act lingered in excruci- 
ating agony till night, when he died. 
Word had been sent to his young wife, 
who was frantically hastening to his 
side, when she was met the following 
day by the wagon containing his corpse. 

I5ut in faithfully recording the faults 
of Andrew Jackson, let us here pause to 
give him the meed of praise of which 
he is well woithy. In his domestic re- 
laiiims he was the kindest and most 
gentle and affectionate of men. His 
^\ife was his idol, and his servants re- 
ceived liis kind consideration and 
care, and it is said of him that he 
never was impatient, even, with a single 
member of his family. When the war 
of 1812 began, Jackson offered his 
services with those of twenty-five 
hundred volunteers. His offer was ac- 
cepted, and he assembled his troops at 
Nashville, but not being called into 
action, the men were dispersed. In the 
fall of 1813 Jackson again raised a large 
body of troops, and entered into a 
vigorous war with the Indians. His 
dcsjierate encountirs. his sufferings and 
wonderful powers ef endurance, and 
his tenderness toward the helpless and 
dependent, would fill a volume in hia 
praise ; and yet there are acts con- 
nected with his military career, the 
heartless and unrelenting rigor of 
wliich would blacken all the glory of 
its pages. His military career is well 
represented in the viar record of both 
the '■ History of The Two Americas" 



768 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1845. and tlie "Clironolngy." SuiEco it to 
say that his successful termination of 
the Creek war niarte him famous and 
established his popularity in the liearls 
of the grateful pioneers, who were de- 
livered from the constant terror of the 
Indians. He was immediately made 
IMajor-Cieneral in the United States 
Army. His Ik.1.1 invasion of Florida 
and defeat of the British, and his bril- 
liant and unprecedented victory at New 
Orleans, have been also detailed. After 
the war he was appointed Governor of 
Florida, and in 1823 United States 
Senator. In 18'28 Andrew .Tackson was 
elected President of the United States. 
Just before his inauguration he met 
with the most terrible affliction of his 
tlite in the death of his wife, to whom 
he was attached with almost singular 
devotion, and from the shock of wliich 
he never recovered. With the masses 
Andrew .lackson was extremely popu- 
lar. He iilled two terms in the Presi- 
dential chair, and retired to the quiet 
of his hermitage and the grave of his 
beloved wife, wliere in retirement he 
sought that i)eace of mind and quietude 
from the stormy labors of his life which 
his feeble health and declining years 
demanded. His last days were full of 
suflerings, which so softened his harsh 
nature that he sought refuge from the 
ills of body and mind in the consola- 
tions of religion, and died a devout 
member of the Church. The character 
of General Jackson presents the most 
marked and contrasting extremes. 
Early education and culture might 
have softened these, and produced a 
more harmonious blending of the op- 
posing forces of his nature. But 
Andrew Jackson was bom a gifted 
man, and the peculiarly sad and un- 
fortunate circumstances of his child- 
hood and youth would have entirely 
crushed a nature of less fortitude and 
heroism than his. 
" Free Soil party originated. "Watchword, 
'■^Free soil for a free jicople.^'' 



Mc.xia 



n\ 



1846. Mar. 28. Oen. Tnylnrmnrched with .^,500 
men to tln' llin i;r:inde. He built a 
fort dirr(tly "ii|in-itr i\latamoras, the 
head<inarti IS dlth'- .Mexicans. 

" The Mexicans ordered him to retire to 
the river Nueces within twenty-four 
hours, or "arms and men alone must 
decide the question" 539 

" Fremont, Kearney, and S'ockton, with a 
handful of men, took possession of 
California, holding it till the close of 
the Mexican war. 

" The Mexicans captured Col. Cross, who 
was riding outside the American lines, 
and murdered him, beating out his 
brains with the butt of a pistol. 

" Capt. Thornton, with a small body of 
dragoons, went in search of him, and 
were attacked and the whole party 
killed. This was the first blood shed 
in the Mexican war. 

" May 8. Battle of Palo Alto, on the Rio 
Grande. The American forces num- 
bered but 3,000 men, who fought 
against 6,000 Mexicans and forced 
them to retreat. American loss forty- 
seven wounded and nine killed. Major 
Samuel Ringgold among the number. 

" May 9. Another battle fought at Kesaca 



de la Palma. The Mexicans again out- 
numbered the Americans three to one, 
and the Americans gaining the victory, 
which was due to the bold and daring 
charge of Capt. May, who took their 
battery and captured their command- 
ing officer. Gen. La Vena 540 

July iS. Kew tariff bill passed. 

Aug. 3. President Polk vetoed the river 
and harbor I)ill. 

Aug. (i. Pvevolution in Mexico in favor 
of Santa Anna. 

Congress authorized the President to ac- 
cept of 50,000 volunteers, 300,000 offer- 
ing their services. 

May 13. Prodanxationoftrar mil Mexico. 

Aug. 8. The President called upon 
C.mcrress for ?;3,000,000 to negotiate a 
trciitv «itli .Mi'xico. 

Tlh' ■■ W iliii'il |)roviso" against the ex- 
trusion of slavery passed the House, 
but not the Senate. 

Boundary between Oregon and British 
possessions settled. 

President Polk vetoes the French spolia- 
tion bill. _ 

Gmi-cott'in inrented. 

Three hundred buildings and other 
property burned in Louisville. Ky. 

Ether first used as an anaesthetic by Dr. 
Charles Jackson, of Boston. 

Aug. IS. Gen. Kearney took possession 
of Santa Fe, New Jlexico, without a 
blow, having marched from Fort 
Leavenworth, a distance of 900 miles. 

Au;. 19. Commodore Stockton block- 
ades the Mexican ports on the Pacific. 

Sept. Gen. Taylor advanced to Monterey 
with GOflO troops. The city was 
strongly fortified and garrisoned with 
10,000 men. 

Surrender of Monterey. 

Gen. Worth crossed the mountains in the 
rear of Monterey, took the fortified 
heights, and reached the walls of the 
city, cutting off its supplies. 

Sept. 33. Gen. Taylor made the grand 
attack, and the city soon surrendered, 
under Gen. Ampudia. 

Gen. Taylor granted an armistice of eight 
days, expecting the Mexicans to pro- 
pose peace. 

Sept. 36. California expedition, with 
Col. Stevenson's regiment of 780 ofBcers 
and luen, sails from New York 540 

Oct. 25. Tobasco, Mexico, bombarded 
by Commodore Perry. 

Oct. 30. Gen. Wool arrived in Mexico 
with 3,000 troops of volunteers, whom 
he trained on the march over deserts 
and mountains. 

Nov. 14. Commodore Conner takes 
Tampico. 

Dec. 6. Gen. Kearney defeats the Mexi- 
cans at San Pasqual 541 

Dec. 25. Col. Doniphan defeats the Mex- 
icans at Brazito, near El Paso. 

Pec. 28. Iowa admitted into the Union. 

Gen. Taylor advanced to Victoria, where 
he learned that Santa Anna was ap- 
proaching with 20,000 men. Just on 
the eve of a l.attle, Gen. Taylor received 
the word that he was superseded by 
General Scott, who was en route for 
Mexico, and who called for the '' flower 
of his army." 

General Taylor sends a courier to 
Gen. Wool, asking him to hasten to 
his aid, and in two hours the General 
was on his way to Victoria. 



Bombardment of the Mormon city of 
Nauvoo, 111., and the exit of the Mor- 
mons at the point of the bayonet. 

First comet discovered by an American 
astronomer, Wm. C. Boyd. 

Lotiin Affassiz visited the United States 
to deliver a course of lectures in Bos- 
ton, and to study the geology and nat- 
ural history of this country. 

War of races in Jamaica caused by the free 
trade principles, and competition be- 
tween the fiee labor of Jamaica and 
the slave labor of Culia and Brazil. 
The English Government suppressed 
this war with great severity. 

Jan. 8-9. Battles of San Gabriel and 
Mesa, in California, under Gen. Kear- 
ney. The enemy were defeated. 

Jan. 8. Mexican Congress resolved to 
raise $15,000,000 on the property of 
the clergy to carry on the war. 

Jan. 14. lievolt of 'the M>xkans in New 
Jlexico against the United States au- 
thorities. 

Jan. 24. Battle of Canada, in New Mex- 
ico — Americans under Col. Price are 
victorious. 

Feb. 23-23. Battle of Buena Vista, by 
Gen. Taylor, aided by Gen. Wool. The 
Mexicans were led bv Santa Anna with 
greatly superior numbers, but the Mex- 
icans were obliged to retreat and yield 
the victory to inferior numbers, but 
superior generalship 54 1 

Feb. 2S. Battle of Sacramento. Col. 
Doniphan, with 934 Americans, de- 
feated 4,000 Mexicans. 

Mar. 1. Gen. Kearney declares Califor- 
nia a part of the United States. . . . 543 

Capture of Vera Cruz. 

Mar. 39. Vera Cruz taJcen by Gen. Scott 
and Commodore Perry with army and 
fleet. This was considered, with the 
exception of Quebec, the most strongly 
fortified city in America. 

April 3. Alvarado taken by Lieut. Hun- 
ter. 

April 18. Battle of Cerro Gordo fought. 
Santa Anna was strongly intrenched 
with a large army. Lee and Beaure- 
gard engineered the mountain attack 
while the army in front simultaneously 
opened fire upon them. The Mexicans 
abandoned their works and beat a 
hasty retreat. 

Tuspan taken by CommoJore Perry. 

Lynch' s Expedition to the River 
Jordan and the Dead Sea. 
May. Lieut. W. F. Lynch, of the United 
States Navy, made an application to 
the Hon. John Y. Mason, the head of 
the Navy Department, for permission 
to circumnavigate aad thoroughly ex- 
])lore the lake Asphatites, or Dead Sea. 
After some delay, a favorable decision 
was given to his ajjplication. The 
United States storeship Supply was 
placed under his command, and was 
laden with stores for the American 
squadron in the Mediterranean. She 
also carried two metallic boats, one of 
copper, the other of galvanized iron, 
for the use of the expedition. The 
members of the expedition were four- 
teen in number. The ten seamen ship- 
jjed to serve as crews of the boats were 
of temperate habits, all of them having 
pledged themselves to abstain from all 
intoxicating drinks. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



7G9 



1847. The expedition set out from New 

York, November 38, 1847. After stop- 
))ing at Port Mahon, the Supphj on 
February 16tli anchored before Smyrna. 
Tlience Lieutenant Lynch ])roceeded 
to Constantinople, where, by the influ- 
ence of Mr. Carr, the United States 
resident Minister, an audience of the 
Sultan was granted, and a firman pro- 
cured, giving permission to explore the 
Dead Sea and the River Jordan. From 
Constantinople he returned to Smyrna, 
and thence proceeded to Beirut anil 
Acre. On April 1, 1848, the party 
pilched their tents cm the south banli 
of the Belus, having parted from the 
storeship Supply, whirh now stood 
out to sea. The expedition directed 
its route toward the Si'<i. <if Galilee, 
or I'iberias, as the first point in their 
tour of observation. 

Lieutenant Lynch, in order to trans- 
port his baggage and boats to navigate 
the inland seas, made the novel ex- 
periment of substituting camels for 
draught-horses, which proved success- 
ful. Having mounted his boats on 
low-wheeled carriages or trucks, three 
of these huge animals were attached 
to each carriage, two abreast and one 
as leader. The first attempt to draw 
the trucks by camels was witnessed 
by an eager crowd of people. The 
successful result taught them the ex- 
istence of an unknown accomplish- 
ment in that patient and powerful ani- 
mnl, which tliey had before thought fit 
only to plod along with its heavy load 
upon its back. On the 4th of April 
they took up their line of march, fol- 
lowing the boats with sixteen horses, 
eleven loaded camels, and a mule. The 
party numbered sixteen in all, includ- 
ing the dragoman and cook. They 
were accompanied by fifteen Bedouins, 
all well mounted. The metal boats, with 
flags flving, rattling and tuuibling 
along, mounted on carriages drawn by 
huge camels, the officers and mounted 
sailors in single file, the loaded camels 
the sherilFand Sheikh with their tufted 
spears — all had the appearance of a 
triumphal march. 

On the 6th of April the party reached 
the Sea of Galilee. " Unable to restrain 
my impatience," says Lieut, Lynch, " I 
now rode ahead with Mustafa, and soon 
saw below, far down the green sloping 
chasm, the Sea of Galilee, basking in 
the sunlight ! Like a mirror it lay 
embosomed in its rounded and beauti- 
ful, but treeless hills. How dear to the 
Christian are the memories of that lake, 

the lake of the New Testament 

The roadside and the uncultivated 
slopes of the hills were full of flowers, 
and abounded with singing birds ; 
there lay the holy lake, consecrated by 
the presence of the liedeemtr ! . . . . 
Near by was the field where, according 
to tradition, the disciples plucked the 
care of com upon the Sabbath ; yet 
nearer was the spot where the Saviour 
fed the famishing multitudes, and to 

the left the mount of Beatitudes 

Not a tree ! not a shrub ! nothing but 
green grain, grass, and flowers, yet 

acres of bright verdure Beyond 

the lake and over the mountains, rise 
majestic in the clear sky the snowy 
peaks of Mount Hermon." 

On the 8th of April, having arrived 



at Tiberias, the two boats, after some 
difficulty in getting them down the 
mountain, were launched into the Sea 
of Galilee with their flags fl.ving. 
" Since the time of Josephus and the 
Romans, no vessel of any size had sailed 
upon this sea, and for many, many 
years, but a solitary keel had furrowed 
its surface." In order to assist the 
transportation of his goods. Lieutenant 
Lynch purchased the only boat used 
by the misgoverned and listless inhab- 
itants to navigate the beautiful lake 
of Tiberias, a lake which was filled 
with fl-b and abounding with wild 
fowl. This boat w,as purchased for 
about twenty-one dollars, and was used 
l>y the inhabitants merely to bring wood 
from the opposite side of the lake. 

On the luth of April, the expedition 
started from the foot of the lake, and 
commenced the descent of the river 
Jordan. Notwithstanding the most 
diligent inquiry at Tiberias, they could 
not procure any reliable information 
respecting the river. They tound, to 
their consternation, that the Jordan 
was interrupted in its course by fre- 
quent and fearful rapids. In some 
instances they had to clear out old 
channels, to make new ones, and some- 
times plunged with headlong velocity 
down appalling descents. So great 
were the difficulties in passing down 
the river, that on the second evening 
they were but twelve miles in a direct 
line from Tiberias. So tortuous is the 
course of the Jordan, that in a space of 
sixty miles of latitude, and four or five 
of longitude, it traverses at least two 
hundred miles ! 

On the 18th of April they reached 
the Dead Sea, and found its northern 
shore an extensive mud-flat, with a 
sandy plain beyond, and the very type 
of desolation. Branches and trunks of 
trees lay scattered in every direction ; 
some charred and blackened by fire, 
others white with an incrustation of 
salt. The waters of the sea they found 
a nauseous compound of bitters and 
salt. As they passed on, they found 
scenes " where there was no vegetation 
whatever ; barren mountains, frag- 
ments of rocks blackened by sulphur- 
ous deposits, and an unnatural sea, 
with low, dead trees upon its margin, 
all within the scope of vision bore a 
sad and sombre aspect." 

JS'ear the southern extremity of the 
Dead Sea, the water became very shal- 
low, from one to two fathoms deep. 
When near the salt mountain of Usdum, 
or Sodom, thev were astonished at the 
appearance of a lofty round jjillar, 
s'aading apparently detached from the 
general mass, at the head of a deep, 
narrow, and .abrupt chasm. "We im- 
mediately pulled in fir the shore," 
says Lieutenant Lynch, " and Dr. 
Anderson and I went up to examine it. 
The beach was a soft, slimy mud, in- 
crusted with salt, and a short distance 
from the water covered with saline 
fragments and flakes of bitumen. We 
found the pillar to be of solid salt, 
capped with carbonate of lime, cylin- 
drical in front and pyramidal behind. 
The upper or rounded part is about 
forty feet high, resting on a kind of 
oval pedestal, from forty to sixty feet 
above the level of tlie sea. It slightly 



decreases in size upward, crumbles at 
the top, and is one entire mass of 
crystallization." A similar pillar is 
mentioned by Josephus as having been 
seen by him, and he in his History ex- 
presses the belief of its being the 
identical one into which Lot's wife was 
transformed. 

While j)assing over and encamping 
on the borders of this remarkable sea, 
the figures of each one of the expe- 
dition assumed a dropsical appearance. 
The lean had become stout, and the 
stout almost corpulent ; the pale faces 
had become florid and ruddy ; more- 
over, the slightest scratch festered, 
and the bodies of many of the party 
were covered with small pustules. The 
men complained bitterly of the irrita- 
tion of their sores, whenever the acrid 
water of the sea touched them: still all 
had good appetites, and they hojKd 
for the best. 

On the 2d of May the party made 
au excursion to Kerak, containing a 
population of about 300 families, of 
whom three-fourths professed Chris- 
tianity. They found these Christians, 
though impoverished and oppressed, 
as kind and obliging as the Moslems 
were insolent. On the 10th of May 
tliey left the Dead Sea, after spending 
twenty-two days in its exploration. 

'■ AVe have," says Lieutenant Lynch, 
" carefully sounded this sea, determined 
its geographical position, taken the 
exact topography of its shores, ascer- 
tained the temperature, width, depth, 
and velocity of its tributaries, collected 
specimens of every kind, and noted 
the winds, currents, changes of the 
weather, and- all atmospheric phe- 
nomena The inference from 

the Bible, that this entire cha«m was 
a plain sunk and 'overwhelmed' by the 
wrath of God, seems to be sustained by 
the extraordinary character of our 

soundings We entered upon 

this sea with conflicting opinions. 
One of the party was skeptical, and 
another, I think, a professed unbeliever 
of the Mosaic account. After twenty- 
two days' close investigation, if I am 
not mistaken we are unanimous in the 
conviction of the truth of the Scriptural 
account of the destruction of the cities 
of the plain." 

Alter leaving the Dead Sea, the 
party proceeded towtrd Jerusalem, 
where they arrived on the 17th of May. 
After visiting va-ious places of interest 
in and about the citv, they proceeded 
to Jaflii. From Jaffa they went to 
Acre, in two parties — one under the 
command of Lieutenant Lynch, in au 
Arabian brig; the other by the land 
route, under the command of Lieu- 
tenant Dale. From Acre they went to 
Nazareth, Nain, Mount Ta'ior, Tiberias, 
Bethsaida, to the source of the Jordan, 
and thence to Damascus and Beirut. 
As they approached the latter pl.ice, 
many of the paity sickened ; and on 
the 25th of July Lieutenant Dale died 
at a \'illage in the vicinity of Beirut, 
at the house of the Rev. Mr. Smith, of 
the American Presbyterian mission. 
From Beirut they proceeded to Malta, 
where, on the 12th of September, the 
Supply being ready, the expedition re- 
embarked for tlie United States, and 
arrived there early iu December. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



Aug. 20. Battles of Contreras and Cliu- 
riibusco 540 

Sept. 8. Gen. Worth storms Molina del 
Kay 546 

Sept. 13. Storming the citadel of Cliapiil- 
tepec 546 

Sept. 14. The American army enters 
the City of Mexico, carrying every post 
and fortiflcation, sweeping every ob- 
stacle before them. Niglit alone s.aved 
the terrible destruction of Santa Anna's 
army, as under the cover of darkness 
the Mexicans fled, and at sunrise the 
American army entered the city, and 
the Stars and Stri|>(S were soon float- 
ing above the ll.ills of the Montezu- 
mas 547 

Sept. 13 to Oct. 13. Siege of Pucbla, 
held by the Americans against the 
Mexicans. The Mexicans were re- 
pulsed by Gen. Childs 547 

Oct. 9. Iliuimantla taken by the Ameri- 
cans under Gen. Lane. 

Oct. 20. Port of Guiiyamas bombarded 
ami captured by the Americans. 

Dec. 31. The .several Mexican States 
occupied by the American army placed 
under niilitary contributions. 

War with Mexico ended. 

Agassiz joined the coast survey expedi- 
tion. 

Comet discovered by Maria IMitchel at 
her private observatory in Nantucket. 

Spirit Rappings. 

Great excitement at Rochester, N. Y., 
and surrounding country caused by 
mysterious knocks, noises, and pecul- 
iar and strange demonstrations. The 
first appearance of these knockings was 
at Arcadia, Wayne County, N. Y. The 
femily where they first made their ap- 
pearance fled from the house, and it was 
alterward occupied by Mr. John Fox. 
His daughters were the first mediums 
through which this mysterious agency 
professed to communicate. The fiimily 
removed to the city of Rochester, and 
the strange manifestations accompa- 
nied them. Very soon these strange 
proceedings were characterized by the 
name of '• Spirit rappings," and nu- 
merous ''mediums" were soon devel- 
oped, and public lectures and private 
seances, where table-tipping and writ- 
ing were introduced, were held. The 
subject attracted universal interest and 
attention, and within three years the 
follower^* of this new sensation num- 
bered hundreds of thousands, with a 
force of thirty thousund mediums. 
Several ]>rominent persons publicly 
advocated the manifestations as com- 
munications from the "Spirit Land." 
Books were written, and hundreds of 
lecturers thronged the public plat- 
forms; private and darh circles and 
seances were held, to which, chiefly, 
the "demonstrations" were confined. 
From this origin has sprung the great 
and world-wide doctrine known as 
Modern Spiritualism. The sect claims 
millions of converts, scattered through 
all parts of the world. 

Voyage of the United States ship Jnmes- 
town, with a cargo of food for the 
starving in Ireland. 

Los Angeles, the capital of California, 
taken by Gen. Kearney, Com. Stockton, 
and Col. Proracmt. Kearney, after or 
gimizing a system of government for 



his conquered territory, set out on his 
march for Mexico. 
Costa Rica a<loptpd a Constitution, pro- 

vidiui,' lnr;i l'i-,..i,l,.nl ;ind Vice-Presi- 
dent, i\r,tr~\ I'll- -i-. \r:iT-, :in.l a IIoUSC 

of lielirisriualivrs r,',ini>.--rd uf twelve 

_/(?//« Qiiinccy Adams. 
Feb. 31. Death of John Qninr-v Adams, 

i^ixtli I'rr i.leMi <.' ill- i 1. 1^.1 States 
slrirkni ,luui, I r,' I 1 IJ..U1 the 
llM.a- .rf (',,ii;:r. ; :, .), 'lie act of 

a<ldiv.;-in- llif ; |., v.. I, ha U:ng but a 

Mr. Adiuus was Fmni .Iiilv II. 1767,"'in 
Quincy, Ma^s. Ho was' tin- son of 
John Aeanis, the second I'li-ident of 
the United States. Wlini l.nl il. \', n 
years old he accompanied lii- lallier in 
Paris, and asfain wlien hi-, f itlier wa.s 
sent to laipl.'iiid as tlie first Minister 
Plenipotentiary to tliat Court, he ac- 
companic<l liim, and spent the time in 
school, first in Paris, then Amsterdam. 
aadattheLeyden University. When but 
fourteen years of age, Mr. Dana, United 
Stiites Minister to Russia, employed 
him as his jjrivate secretary. At the 
age of fifteen he iourneycd alone from 
St. Petersburg to Holland, through 
Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg, and 
Bremen. In 1785 he returned to 
America, leaving his fiitlier at the 
Court of St. James. Here he entered 
Harvard Colle^'e. and iipnn li s gradua- 

an oralicii \\\vx\\ atliarled much at- 
tention, and which w..s iiuMi^lied and 
widely distributed, an event (il rare <>e- 
currence. Mr. Adams lutered im- 
mediately upon the study of law with 
Hon. Theoiihilus Parsons, of Newbury- 
piirt. In i7i)0 he oj)cned a law-oftice 
in Boston. His first public eflbrts were 
in defuse ,.r I're-i.leiit Washington's 
neiitralii'. I ■■■ ■ I ill il'i'i In 1 itU, when 
i\\v\\y\~-' '. h ;: I' I I ;i>je, tlie Presi- 
dent a]i|ii. line. 1 I v-i-lriit Minister at 

theJNetherlanils. In .Inly, i;'.)7, hewas 
appointed Minister Pleni|iii(entiary to 
Portugal. Upon his way lie was married 
in London to Miss Lmiisa C.atharine 



pre\ 



Johnson, to whom he had lieei 
ously engaged. She was the di 
of the American Consul in London, a 
lady of much beauty and intelligence. 
Wliile in London lie was directed to 
repair to the Cour; <>1' ISirlin, where he 
ably fulfilled all tlie dbje, ts ,,f his mis- 
sion. In 1803 he was'cliosen as State 
Senator for Massachusetts, and in 1804 
he entered the United States Senate 
for a term of six years. He was alike 
the firm friend of \VasIiini;-ton and 
Jeireis.ii. His rei)Ulalii]n immediately 
placed liim aiie.-M (he most influential 
iiiciulie s 111 |;at lH,.|y. He .sustained 
the ( HIM iniiiciit in its measures of re- 
sishince lo llir eie r.Mcliments of Great 
biilaii. In 1 SI!.-, Ml Adams was chosen 
Pinf.s ,.r ,,r i;',eiuri, in Harvard Col- 
lide, and lourilivi- with his indefatig- 
able Sen: ial diuii's, he added a 

course of lectures to be delivered be- 
fiire the class, which were carefully 
culled and prefaced by a review of the 
classics and a vitforous study of the 
literature nf the Old World. 

rjiMii tlieniiiraue.it t he British Gov- 

tlie Lto^iiiril, upon tlie American frigate 



Chesapeal-e, Mr. Adams presented reso- 
lutions in the indignation meeting 
called in Boston, of such a pionounced 
and determined character against the 
act as caused him to be denounced by 
the Federal party, of which he was a 
member. The Legislature of Massa- 
chusetts were so much displeased with 
1 is course that he immediately resigned 
his seat in the Senate. He was bitterly 
persecuted by his old party friends, 
but he maintained his ccmvictions of 
duty and retired to his profession. In 
1S09 President Madison appointed him 
Minister to St. Petersburg. Mr. Adams 
now abandoned the Federalists and 
allied himself with the Republican party. 
A w arm friendship grew up between 
till lauperorAlexanderand Mr. Adams, 
w hi ' 1 laid the foundation of the terms 
of I il nilship and peace which have 
cxi-iid liet'veen the two natious until 
111, |iie-, .,t iliy. While in Russia Mr. 
Adams li.eil ill a plain way, as became 
the iMinister of a Republic, avoiding 
the public and costly entertainments of 
the foreign Ministers, and gave him- 
S' If to the study of the language and 
liistiuy (if lUissia, and to the subjects 
in wliiili bis Government were most 
iniercsteil. In 1811 President Madison 
niiniiiialed JIi-. Adams to a seat on the 
bench of the Sujjreme Court of the 
United States, but he declined the 
honor, preferring to serve his country 
in a more active and efficient yvay. 
Mr. Adams was subsequently called, 
■with Mr. Gallatin .and Mr. Bayard, to 
iiegiitiate a treaty of peace with En- 
gland, which was secrued at Ghent, 
.Mr. Adams taking the leading part. 
Ill isl.j he was again appointed Minis- 
ti r to the Court of England, and in 
1817, upnn the inauguration of Presi- 
dent iMonroe, he was chosen as Secre- 
tary of State, and returned to his native 
country after an absence of eight years, 
to again take up the active duties of 
the Government at home. Mr. Adams 
discharged the honorable duties of his 
office during the eight years of Mr. 
Monroe's Administration, and those 
duties were never more ably dis- 
charged. 

Upon the 4th of March, 1825, John 
Quineey Adams became President of the 
United States, after a most exciting 
campaign. Party spirit ran high, and 
the disappointed candidates united in 
their assault upon the President. 
Never was an Administration so cruel- 
ly assailed, and never was an Adminis- 
tration more pure in principles and 
more thoroughly devoted to the best 
infcre-ts of the country. No man ever 
s it ill the Presidential chair more ably 
qualilied to fill the high station of 
Chief Magistrate of a nation, and never 
•was exalted ability and genuine virtue 
of character so ungratefully and cruelly 
maligned. 

Upon his retirement from the Presi- 
dential chair, Mr. Adams repaired to 
his home at Quincy and to his studies, 
which he was ever prosecuting with 
unabated zeal. In every place and 
every department of life Mr. Adams 
was a close student, and never re- 
linquished his unceasing search after 
knowledge. But he was not long to 
remain in retirement. In Nov., 1880, 
he was elected Representative to 



CHRONOLOGY. 



771 



Congress. Hero was an opportunity 
for him to furtlier serve his country, 
and he shrunk not from stepping into 
a lower position of usefulness when his 
services were needed. And most hero- 
ically and nobly did lie serve lier 
during the remaining seventeen years 
of his life. Upon entering Congress 
he announced that he would be bound 
to no party. He was first in his seat 
in the morning, and last to leave it in 
the evening. Not a measure escaped 
his scrutiny. His battle for freedom 
against the combined pro-slavery in- 
fluence of the South was one of daring 
heroism and sublimity. He was re- 
peatedly threatened with indictment 
by the Grand Jury, with expulsion 
from the House, and with assassina- 
tion, but nothing could intimidate him 
or move him from the one grand pur- 
pose of his life, the defense of the 
principles of freedom involved in a 
true republic. Once Sir. Adams pre- 
sented a petition, signed by several 
women, against the annexation of Texas 
for the purpose of converting it into 
slave States. A member from Mary- 
land said: ''These women have dis- 
credited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts 
of political life." In reply, Mr. Adams 
demanded to know '' where the gentle- 
man got this principle." " Did he find 
it in sacred history " that " women are to 
have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare? " Here 
Mr. Adams unrolled the long and bril- 
liant list of illustrious women in sacred 
and profane history who not only enter- 
tained " opinions," but who expressed 
and enforced them, and commemorated 
them by deeds of valor and suffering 
unsurpassed by the examples of men in 
history. In the enthusiasm of his elo- 
quence and zeal he overwhelmed and 
silenced his antagonists. Mr. Adams 
as eloquently pleaded the cause of the 
slave as that of his Anglo-Saxon 
brother. "The rights of the people,"' 
was his grand motto, and for these be 
fought. At the age of seventy-four 
years he ap])eared in the Supreme 
Court of the United States to plead the 
cause of a few friendless negroes — the 
Amistead captives — who had escaped 
from the grasp of the man-stealers. 
His eflbrt was crowned with succes-;, 
and the poor Africans, liberated and 
furnished abundantly with implements 
of civilized Hfe, were returned to their 
homes from which they had been so 
ruthlessly torn. 

His great debate of eleven days' 
duration, when he withstood the whole 
House, for the right of petition in 
Congress by the American peoijle, was 
the triumphant act of his Congressional 
career. It was one of the graiidest and 
most heroic, moral, and intellectual 
triumphs ever accorded to mortal man ; 
an'l the results of that glorious achieve- 
ment will be enjoyed by the unborn 
millions of this great Republic while 
it shall have an existence. 

His unique, bold, and unprecedented 
victory over the assumed authority of 
the Clerk of the House, when he held 
that august body for' four days in 
status quo upon a point of precedence 
and " parliamentary usage," was one 



which will long be remembered by 
members of that Congress and by the 
American people as a masterly stroke 
of policy and power worthy an Alex- 
ander. Said Mr. Wise, of Virginia, to 
Mr. Adams upon that occasion : " Sir, 
I regard it as the proudest hour of 
your life ; and if, when you shall be 
gathered to your fathers, I were asked 
to select the words which, in my judg- 
ment, are best calculated to give at 
imce the character of the man, I would 
inscribe upon your tomb this sentence, 
' I will put the question myself.' " At 
the age of seventy-five years Mr. Adams 
met the combined pro-slavery element 
in Congress, who came crowding to- 
gether into the House prepared to 
crush forever the gray-haired veteran 
of freedom. In view'of the eflTorts the 
South were making to overthrow the 
Government, Jlr. Adams had presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of 
Haverhill, Mass., jiraying for the peace- 
able dissolution of the Union. The 
stormy scene which followed bafiies 
description. They met in caucus and 
prepared resolutions accusing him of 
high treason, and of insulting the Gov- 
ernment On the 38tli of January 
they met to present their resolutions to 
the House. Mr. Marshal, of Kentucky, 
during a breathless silence, read them. 
Mr. Adams stood alone. The whole 
pro-slavery party were hurling their 
secret anathemas against him. When 
Mr. Marshal closed, every eye was fixed 
upon that brave old man, whose scat- 
tered locks of snow seemed like a halo 
of glory to light up his grand and 
m.ajestic face. Casting a withering 
glance of defiance at his assailants, in 
a clear voice, yet deep with suppressed 
emotion, he said : " In reply to this 
audacious, atrocious charge of high 
treason I call for the reading of the 
first paragraph of the Declaration of 
Independence. Read it, read it! and 
see what that says of the right of a 
])eople to reform, to change, and to 
dissolve their Government." During 
the reply of Mr. Adams and the read- 
ing of that paragraph the impressive- 
ness of the silence and the emotion of 
the speaker were overwhelming. Never 
was there a grander or a more signal 
triumph. After several ineffectual at- 
tempts, his discomfited assailants gave 
up vanquished, and their ignominious 
resolution was laid upon the table. 
The following year Mr. Adams took a 
tour through the State of New York. 
Such an ovation as greeted bim at 
every point had never before been con- 
ferred ujjon any man. Every one was 
anxious to get a view of that " Old 
Man Eloquent," who had so long and 
80 valiautly fought the naticm's battles 
for freedom in her halls of Congress. 

At the age of seventy-eight he par- 
ticipated in the great debate on the 
Oregon question, and the intellectual 
power he displayed and his great ac- 
curacy and extent of knowledge upon 
the subject under discussion, excited 
the admiration of the whole nation. 
On the 17th of November following he 
had an attack of paralysis while on the 
street in the city of Boston, but he so 
far recovered as to resume his official 
duties the following winter. As he 
entered the House on the 16th of Feb? 



ruary every Member rose to his feet, 
and two of the Members formally con- 
ducted him to his seat. But he took 
little part in the active labors of Con- 
gress. On the 21st of February, 1848, 
he rose to present a paper, and in the 
act of addressing the Speaker he was 
again suddenly stricken down with 
paralysis. He was caught in the arms 
of the Members near him and borne to 
a couch in the rotunda. As he revived 
to consciousness he opened his eyes 
and calmly gazing around him, ex- 
claimed : " This is the end of earth." 
After a pause of a moment he added, 
" I am content." In a short time he 
expired, beneath the dome of that 
Capitol which had so often resounded 
with his eloquent pleadings and his 
masterly logic. 

Feb. 2. Treaty of Gnadaloupe Hidalgo, 
by which New Mexico and Upper Cali- 
fornia were ceded to the United States, 
and the western boundary of Texas 
fixed at the Rio Grande. This war 
cost the United States nearly 35,000 
men and $100,000,000. 

Feb. 18. Gen. Scott relinquishes the 
command of Mexico to Gen. Butler. 

Go/d Discovered in Calif or7iia. 
May. Gold discovered in CaHfornia, 
at Sutter's Mill, near Sacramento, by 
James Marshall. The news soon spread 
over the State, and great excitement 
prevailed. All classes rushed to the 
mines. Ships were deserted by their 
crews. Soon the whole world was elec- 
trified by the report that a new Gol- 
conda had been discovered. Thou- 
sands rushed to the new gold fields 
from every State and from almo<t 
every civilized country. In a little 
over a year California had a sufficient 
number of inhabitants to entitle its ad- 
mission as a State. The city of San 
Francisco grew up like ''Jonah's 
Gourd." Its streets were soon thronge.l 
with daring and reckless adventurers 
from all p.aris of the world. Gambling 
became the daily pastime of the idle 
arid the successful miners, and murder 
was of almost daily occurrence. Vigi- 
lance committees were appointed, and 
for five years justice was administered 
in this manner with telling effect. In 
185G law and order was established, 
and for many years California flourished, 
and was the great El Dorado of the 
West in point of mineral wealth, agri- 
culture, and general prosperity. . . 549 

Perfectionists. 

The Oneida Community, in the State of 
New York, another Socialistic order, 
was established, also a branch at Wal- 
lingford. Ct. This is a religious com- 
munity of very peculiar ideas, among 
which are "personal holiness," "com- 
plex marriage,'' " community of goods," 
etc. They are a very industrious and 
peaceable community, and jn point of 
wealth are a success. But they num- 
ber, after nearly thirty years' cxpcvi- 
ment, less than four hundred members 

May 29. Wisconsin admitted into the 
Union. 

Jlissouri Compromise repealed 553 

Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore 
tcere elected President and Vice-Pnsi- 
dint. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



ISiS. CorntT-stone of Washington Monument 
laid. 

" Aiii;-. \". Oregon territorial bill, with 
prohibition of slavery, passed by Con- 
gress. 

" Dec. 8. First deposit of California gokl 
in the mint. Great rush for California. 
1849. Vmt of Father Mathew, the Catholic 
Apostle of Temperance, to the Uuiied 
States. 600,000 are converted to total 
abstinence principles through his la- 
bors. 

" President Taylor issues a proclamation 
against the Cuban filibusters. 

" Captain Minnie invented the Minnie con- 
ical bullet. 

" Survey of the boundary line betvpeen 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mary- 
land, comprising the greater part of 
Mason and Dixon's line. 

" Cholera again visited the United Staten, 
spreading far and wide ; the victims 
in St. Louis and Cincinnati number- 
ing 0,000 each. 

" Convention of delegates met at Monterey 
to frame a Constitution for California. 

" Great riot at the Auto?- Place Opera 
House, instigated and led by the friends 
of Edwin Forrest, the great American 
trai^'eilinii, uimn the attempt of Mac- 
rc-iily, the einiiicut English actor, to 
play tipun the boards of that theatre. 
See biography of Forrest. 

" Great lire in St. Louis. $3,000,000 lost. 

Murder of Dr. Parkman. 

" Nov. 23. Murder of Dr. George Park- 
man, a noted millionaire of Boston, by 
Professor John W. Webster, of ilarvanl 
College. This was one of the most 
remarkable and surprising murders 
ever recorded in the annals of history. 
The parties were both men of eminent 
])osition and respectability. The boily 
of Dr. Parkman was discovered 
tlirough the suspicions of the janitor 
of the college, and the continued search 
of the Professor's laboratory and rooms 
adjoining. A portion of the body was 
found at the bottom of the vault of a 
private closet opening off from a labo- 
ratory on the basement floor, whieli 
contained a furnace. Buried in tan in 
a tea-chest, and covered witli speci- 
mens of minerals, were other porlions 
of the body, and in the ashes of the 
furnace were foun<l a shirt button, a 
human tooth, blocks of mineral teeth, 
and a large number of fragments of 
bone belonjinfj to a human bodv. A 
laru-c hinitin--kinh', a dn,il,|,.<Mlged 
shcalh liiiilr, a ^a«\ hainiii, ]■. and other 
articles wen- also loiiiid. I [.on this 
evidence Professor Webster was ar- 
rested. The whole community and 
country were appalled. The cause 
seemed so insignitic:int — a dispute about 
the payment of a small sum of money 
which the Professor was owing Dr. 
Parkman — and the murder so cruel and 
apparently so well planned, that it 
seemed impossible, considering the 
high character of Prof. Webster as a 
scholar and professed Cliristian. Upon 
his arrest he swallowed a strychnine 
powder, which he had prepared and 
carried in his pocket, but his great 
nervous agitation prevented its action, 
j(nd he survived, was tried and sen- 
tenced for murder in the first degree, 
and was bupg upon a scaffold in full 



:. Polk, 

Pnitcd 



igrate 



I'nd . ..■• l.ir liM roiiud. 

Pailianual !iu,i ■ - i,i Montreal, Upper 

CoiisiilutiDii l.iibiilding slavery adopted 

for C'alitornia. 
golouque, President of Santo Domingo, 

assumed the imperial title. 

Jarnes K. Polk. 

June 15. Death of James 
eleventh President of tl 
States. He was born in 'W 
County, North Carolina, ^'i 
His father was a farmer, and 
to East Tennessee. In Is],-,, at the ap:e 
of twenty, hi' entered the t niversitv of 
North Canilina, at Caapel Hill, and 
piniluated with lii-h Imnors in 1818. 
He very soon enteral the law office of 
F(li\ (irnndv in Xasjiville, and when 
he had linisiied Ins k-al studies, he 
establi.shed himself in Columbia, the 
seat of M,aury County. His success 
w'as very rapid. Mr. Polk had stored 
his mind with knowledge, and sub- 
jected it to a strict disciiHine, and with 
temperate and frugal haliits his success 
was placed beyond jeopardy. He soon 
became popular as a public speaker, 
and was an effective campaign orator 
for his party. His manners were 
courteous and winning, and he won 
many friends. In 1823 he was elected 
to tiie Legislature of Tennessee. His 
tlrst important act was in jirocuring 
the p.assage of a law to prevent duel- 
ing. He early imbibed State's Rights 
principles, and gave his influence to 
strengthen the State Governments. In 
1825 Mr. Polk was chosen a Member 
of Congress, and for fourteen consecu- 
tive jears he was continued in that 
ollice, when he withdrew to accept 
the Governorshii> of Tennessee. In 
Congress Mr. I'olk was a popular Mem- 
ber, always (ourteons and prompt, and 
an easy and pleasing speaker, and was 
appointed Chairman of the Committee 
of Ways and Means. He was a warm 
supporter of President Jackson and 
bis measures, and during five sessions 
of Congress he was Speaker of the 
House, and never had a personal alter- 
cation with a single Member during 
his fourteen years in Congress. Mr. 
Polk was the avowed champion of the 
annexation of Texas, and in 1845 the 
Democratic party made him their.can- 
didate for President, and he was 
elected by a large majority. His first 
Message urged the immediate an- 
nexation of Texas as a State. War 
with Mexico was soon announced, and 
Mr. Polk's Administration pushed it 
forward with great vigor. The Mexi- 
cans were hopelessly defeated and 
awfilly slau-litcred. " Not only wa.s 
Texas annexed, but all of the vast 
terri;oiy of New Mexico and Upper 
and bower ( alifornia was added to 
the terril'.rial ;irea of the United 
states. 

The annexation scheme was a pro- 
slavery measure, and Texas was de- 
signed by the South for a slave 
Stiite, ami the Administration called 
for $3,000,00 I to satisfy Mexico and 
induce a voluntary sorrendcr of Texas. 



To this appropriation the Northern 
Democrats attached what was cilled 
the " Wilmot Proviso," which excluded 
the annexation of territory for slavo 
States. To this the Administrat on 
and the whole South were violen'ly 
opposed, and a war in Congress ensued. 
The " dissolution of the Union " was 
threatened, and the Proviso was re- 
considered and rejected. In 1849 Mr. 
Polk retired from office and rejjaired 
to his home in Nashville, where he 
ilied the 15tb of June of that year. 
Col. Lopez attempts to revolutionize 
Cuba, but was unsuccessful. 

John C. Calhoun. 
March 31. Death of .John Caldwell 
Callioun, an eminent American states- 
man of South Carolina. Mr. Calhoun 
graduated at Yale College in 1804, 
and afterward studied law. He 
entered t'ongress in 1811 at the age 
of twenty-nine years, as a Donocrat 
and leader of the war party. In 1817 
lie was chosen Secretary of War by 
President Monroe. - He was elected 
Vice-President in 1834, also in 182S, 
and became an advocate of free tr.aile 
and State sovereignty, and was the 
author of the South Carolina exposi- 
tion, which affirmed that a State may 
nullify nnconstitntional lius of C'on- 

I'nite.l States Senate.' Mr. Calhoun 
finaily aeee|ite.l the '■ tariff com| ro- 
mi^e ' ,>| Mr. flay. As a deba'er, Mr. 
Calhoun lanked foremost among the 
American Senators, and \v;is excelled 
bv none except Clav ;ind Wei sler. In 
1S44 he was appointed Secretary of 
State by President Tyler, and in 1845 
he retiniieil to the Senate, where he 
r.i.iaiued till his death. Mr. Calhoun 
op|iosed the Mexican war. His private 
character was without reproach. He 
was the author of two works on " Gov- 
ernment," which are held in big i 
esteem by men of his school of pol- 
itics. 

Oregon Market for Girls. 

Congress passed the Donation Law, giv- 
ing every lona fide settler of Gregon 
320 acres of land ; also, giving the 
same amount to a wife, upon conditions 
of settlement upon it within a given 
time and remaining four years. Very 
soon nearly all the girls over fourteen 
years of age were married off, and old 
maids were scarce in Oregon. 

May 19. A filihustering expedition of 
GOO men under General Lopez attempt- 
ed the liberation of Cuba from Spanish 
rule. The town of Cardenas sur- 
rendered to them. 



Unele Tom's Cabin. 

" Uncle Tom's Cabin," a novel written 
upon slave-life in the South, and pub- 
lished in the National Era. This book 
caused great excitement all over the 
Ts'orth and was extensively read in the 
South. It was translated and sold in 
every civilized conntiy on the globe, 
and was probably the most popular 
and sensatnmal novel ever written. 

■Watches were first made by machinery in 



CHEONOLOGY. 



773 



1850. the United States at Roxbury, Mass., 
by Denison & Howard. 

Fugitive Slave Lata. 
" Passage of tbe notorious "Fugitive Slaee 
Law,'''' introduced by Henry Clay in his 
great '^Omnibus Bill.'''' This law made 
every foot of free soil upon this broad 
Republic a hunting-ground for slave- 
nolders to hunt fugitives who had 
escaped from a life of slaverj% And 
every citizen who aided or harbored 
fugitives was subject to flues and 
punishment. 

Zacliary Taylor. 
" July 9. Death of Zachary Taylor, twelfth 
President of the United States. Mr. 
Taylor was boru on the 24th of Novem- 
ber, 1784, in Orange County, Virginia. 
While very young his father emigrated 
to Kentucky, a few miles from the 
present city of Louisville. His ad- 
vantages for education and culture 
were very limited. In 1808 he received 
a commission as Lieuienant in the 
United States Army, and he joined the 
troops in New Orleans. At the be- 
ginning of the war of 1813 be was pro- 
moted to the rank of Captain and put 
in command of Fort Harrison, which 
■was one of the lirst points of attack by 
Tecumseh. His gallant defense of this 
fort, when attacked the 4th of Septem- 
ber by the Indians, gained him the 
rank of Major by brevet. At the close 
of the war Major Taylor resigned his 
commission and returned to private 
life. He soon, however, returned to 
the army, and was stationed at Green 
Bay, Wis. He was promoted to the 
rank of Colonel, and participated in 
the Black Hawk war. He continued 
for twenty years in the defense of the 
frontiers against the Indians, but be- 
ing so remote from civilization that 
his fame extended little beyond the 
limits of his acquaintance. He was 
also engaged in the Seminole war, 
after which he obtained a change of 
command, and was appointed over the 
Department of the Southwest, and 
established his headquarters at Baton 
Rouge, where he remained for five 
years. 

In 1845 Gen. Taylor was ordered to 
advance into Mexico. He accordingly 
marched with 1,500 troops, which 
were soon increased to 4,000, and 
established his little army at Corpus 
Christi ; but in 1846 he received ex- 
plicit orders from Government to march 
to the Rio Grande, which he did, im- 
plicitly obeying the orders he had re- 
ceived, although the Mexicans pro- 
tested, and declared it to be an inva- 
sion of their country. The result of 
this expedition we have given in full 
in the notes on the Mexican war, also 
a detailed account of the bravery and 
generalship of Zachary Taylor. His 
brilliant victory at Buena Vista secured 
his fame as a great General, and in the 
enthusiasm of the triumph the Whig 
party, taking advantage of the "favor- 
ing tide," placed his name upon their 
banner as their future President ; and 
well did they use the prestige of his 
popularity. He was elected in the fall 
of 1848 to the highest office in the gift 



of the people. General criticism pre- 
dicted a great failure in this plain, 
homespun, illiterate soldier; but his 
short career of but one year and four 
months proved that tlie nation had 
another Jackson in firmness and in- 
tegrity of character, and a Harrison in 
simplicity and honesty of purpose. 
He died universally respected and re- 
vered, and left not an open enemy in 
the world. 

Arctic Expedition. 

Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic Seas, 
under command of Lieut. E. J. De- 
Ilaven, Dr. E. K. Kane accompanying 
the expedition as naturalist and sur- 
geon. 

Sept. 9. California admitted as a Free 
State. 

Sept. 9. New Mexico and Utah organ- 
ized as Territories. 

Jenny Lind. 

Sept. 13. Jenny Lind, the '^Sicedis}i 
Nightingale,'''' gave her first concert in 
the United States at Castle Garden, 
New York. The receipts were about 
$30,000, and the enthusiasm exceeded 
anything ever witnessed at a public 
concert or dramatic entertainment in 
the United States. She gave one 
hundred concerts under engagement 
and direction of P. T. Barnum, in all 
the large cities of the Union, involving 
nearly a million dollars in total re- 
ceipts. 

The first ticket for her New York 
concert was purchased by Genin, the 
hatter, for which he paid |225. The 
proceeds of this concert were devoted 
to charitable objects. Ossian E. Dodge 
paid |635 for a ticket in Boston. The 
highest price paid for a ticket to 
any of her concerts was |650 by Col. 
Wm. C. Ross, of Providence. 

During her stay in Washington she 
was visited by the chief and eminent 
men of the land, and the most dis- 
tinguished honors were paid her in 
every city that she visited. When 
Jenny Lind bade adieu to America, she 
bore the hearts of the American people 
with her. Never before had prima 
donna, or queen of song, so thorough- 
ly captivated the whole nation, as did 
this plain, simple Swedish maiden with 
her pure, sweet nature, and her unpar- 
alleled gifts and sweetness of voice and 
heart. 

Dahlgren's cast-iron gtm invented by 
Admiral Dahlgren. 

Abolition of slave traffic in Brazil. 

Great Sea-Serpent. 
Appearance of a great sea-serpent in the 
Atlantic along the coast of Maine and 
Massachusetts. It was first seen in 
Penobscot Bay by higldy respectable 
parties who had a close view of the 
monster, and who gave a de.'icription 
of it at the time. They saw him rest- 
ing on the water, and afterward dart 
swiftly out to sea. He was also seen by 
several sea captains in this vicinity. 
A similar serpent was seen off Plymouth 
Harbor, Mass., within a quarter of a 
mile of those who saw him. He was 
also seen by several prominent men of 
Boston, and described by them quite 



1851. accurately. The witnesses all agree in 
the main, and describe his length from 
50 to 100 feet, and his size from two 
to three feet in thickness. He some- 
times apiieared to have large bunches 
along the entire length of his back, 
at other times they were not promi- 
nent, and were probably caused by the 
motion of his body in swimming. The 
large number of reliable witnesses, and 
the general harmony of their testi- 
mony, removes any doubt of the ex- 
istence of an animal in the Atlantic 
waters, commonly called the " Sea- 
Serpcnt." 

" April. Erie Railrtad completed. 

" July 4. Corner-stone of Capitol exten- 
sion laid, Daniel Webster delivering 
the oration. 

" Return of the Grinnell Arctic Expedition. 
Dr. Kane reported having discovered 
an open polar sea. 

Leu/is Kossiit/i. 

" Dec. 5. Arrival of Louis Kossuth, the 
distinguished Hungarian exile. He 
was received at New York with public 
honors, such as had been shown to no 
foreigner since the departure of La- 
fayette. He made an extended tour 
through the country, and was every- 
where welcomed as the eloquent and 
distinguished exponent of the down- 
trodden cause of Democracy in Hun- 
gary and in Europe. 

" First asylum for idiots in the United 
States, established in New York. 

California Vigilance Committees. 
" Reign of Vigilance Committees in Cali- 
fornia, which proved elfcctual in check- 
ing crime and restoring order and 
public safety to the citizens. 
" Revolution in Chili. 
" Echenique chosen President of Peru. 
Revolution under Castella. 

American Yacht Victory. 
" Victorious race of the yacht America, 
in the great international regatta in 
Londiin, the prize being the "Cup of 
all Nations." She was built by George 
Steers, of Brooklyn, and commanded 
by Com. John C.Stevens, of New York. 

Frightful Catastrophe. 

" A i^anic, caused by a false alarm of "fire,"' 
occurred in a New York public school, 
containing 1,800 pupils. Nearly 50 
children were instantly killed by suffo- 
cation, and many seriously injured by 
lumping from windows, and from 
fright. 

" Lopez heads another expeditien to Cuba 
with .500 armed men, among them Col. 
Crittenden. Not meeting with the ex- 
pi cted support on the part of the Cu- 
bans, both Lopez and Crittenden were 
taken prisoners and executed. 

Henry Clay. 

1852. June 20. Death of Henry Clay, an Amer- 

ican statesman and orator of great aliil- 
ity and renown. He wa^ born in Vir- 
-ginia. He wai thrice a candidate for 
President, and once very nearly elect- 
ed. Henry Clay was admitted to the 
bar in 1797, though not of age. He 



774 



CHKONOLOGY. 



set up an office in I,i xinulon. h:y.,aiiil 
soon acquirod a lucraiivi' ihih (ice He 
was a favorite urainr iliirinu tin- Presi- 
dential canvass for Jefferson, and was 
chosen to represent Fayette County in 
the Legislature in 1803, and in 1806 
chosen to fill a vacancy in the U. S. 
Senate, though but 29 years of age. He 
was again, in 1807, elected to the House 
of Representatives, and chosen Speak- 
er of the House, where he proposed 
that each Member should clothe him- 
self in American fabrics, which was so 
sharply stigmatized by Mr. Humjjhrey 
Marshall that it led to a duel between 
them, wherein both parties were slight- 
ly wounded. In 1811 he was elected 
to Congress, and was the first day 
chosen Speaker. During his term the 
United States declared war with Great 
Britain. He remained in Congress 
during the war until sent by President 
Monroe to Europe to negotiate for 
peace, a seiTice which he rendered 
with eminent ability. In 1825 Presi- 
dent Adams chose Mr. Clay as Secretary 
of State. In 1844 Mr. Clay again re- 
turned to the Senate, where he re- 
mained till his death, which was in his 
76th year. In conversation and on the 
rostrum Mr. Clay possessed a magical 
influence even over his enemies and 
political antagonists. 

Daniel Webster. 

Oct. 24. Death of Daniel Webster, 
LL.D., an American statesman of great 
renown. Mr. Webster was for years con- 
sidered the lion of the United States 
Senate. He was born in Salisbury, 
N. H.. Jan. 18, 1782, of poor parents, 
and received but few educational ad- 
vantages, and prepared himself for col- 
lege chiefly by private study, supporting 
himself at college by teaching school 
during winters. Young Webster be- 
came distinguished while in college for 
great proficiency in his studies and in the 
debating societies of the college. He 
graduated in 1801, and began the study 
of law immediately after, and during 
his studies acted as principal of an 
acailemy in Maine, also doing copying 
and office-woik to aid him. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1805, and soon 
rose to eminence at a bar where Samuel 
Dexter, Joseph Story, and Jeremiah 
Mason were at the height of their 
fame. He was elected to Congress in 
1812, and was appointed Commissioner 
of Foreign Atl'airs, taking a prom- 
inent part in the debates on the war 
and finances. He was re-elected in 
1814, and was admitted to practice at 
the bar of the Supreme Court at Wash- 
ington in 1816, and removed to Boston 
the same year. In 1818 he ranked 
among the most distinguished jurists 
of the country. He was elected a Mem- 
ber of Conj;ress from the city of Boston 
in 1823, and in a great speech made 
on the Greek Revolution, established 
liis reputation as one of the first states 
men of the age. On June 17, 1825, ir 
his address at the laying of the corner 
stone of Bunker Hill Monument, he made 
great addition to his fame as an orator. 
In 1827 he entered the United Stat 
Senate, and retained his seat in that 
body until 1841. In 1S30 he made his 
''great speech" in rejily to Hajne, of 



'■outh Cir 
In ls?(, he 

Ot ^ll 1(1 

111 'III 


ihm 
rtcii 

llsi ft 

1 1 


1 i\ 1 
til ( lit 
In 1 11 h 





I ^11 ictiry ol 
St iti li\ Prisidiiit '[iiiison uid con 
tinuid in the oftce by fjki, but rL 
si^nid his post m Mav 1S43 In 1813 
hi il.liMr. <1 ispl, ndid orttion at the 
foiiipliti 111 I * 1 iiiikii Hill Mminmont 
11, 1 1111 I I 111 It 111 tliL Unitul 

stittss, iiit, nilM> u (I nppostil tiic 
admittmCL ot Icxi^ is a sUve htate 
and the prosecution of the Mexicm 
^s ar Although anti slavery in h s 
con\Ktions lu snpportefl the comjaro- 



pir 



t> UncUi 1 rt ident iillmorc he i.,xiu 
became becrctiiy o± State His \\^\, 
])ublic effort at speech-making (ctccpt 
his argument m the Good>cai pxttnt 
case at Trenton N J ls")3) was at 
the liymg of tla roinii stom of the 
Cipitol extension it A\ ishni^ton, July 
4, 1851 In May, lb">2, he w c thiown 
from his carriage and seriously injured, 
near Plymouth, Mass., and died in 
October of the same year. 

Expcdiiio7i to Japan. 

Expedition to Japan under Com. Perry, 
resulting in the opening of the ports 
of that Empire to American trade and 
commerce 550 

First street railway in New York, 

Treaty of commerce between Chili, 
France, Great Britain, United Status, 
and Sardinia. 

Inde])c'ndence of Paraguay recognized 
by Great Britain, and Lopez becomes 
Governor. 

Revolution broke out in Buenos Ayrcs 
and it declared for independence. 

Branch mint established in San Fran- 
cisco. 

Whig Convention in Baltimore. 

Gen.'Winfield Scott nominated for Presi- 
dent, and Jlr. Graham, of North Caro- 
lina, Vice-President 550 

Aug. Free Soil Convention in Pitfsliurg, 
nominated John P. Hale for I'rosiilent, 
and George W. Julien, of Iiid., Vice- 
President 550 



Crystal Palace. 

Grand International Industrial Exhibi- 
tion in New Yuik, held in the Crystal 
Palace, a colossal building composed 
of glass and iron, and erected ex- 
pressly for the great exhibition. 

Mar. 4. Franklin Pierce inaugurated 
President. 

Treaty with Mexico for the purchase of 
Arizona. 

New Constitution granted Buenos Ayres, 
copied from the Constitution of the 
United States. 

IndriKudence of Paraguay recognized by 
Great Britain. 



Treaty with Russia. 



tr;il|!y <il tlTc I iiiiimI Stairs in ttie war 
oniic alliiM |,Muvrs.if Kiiro|ir a;;ainst 
that [lower, and recognizing the prop- 



1853. erty right of neutral nations wherever 
found 551 

" Exploration for a Pacific Railroad. 

" Tcllmo Fever again visited the United 
States ; and in the city of New Orleans, 
in the space of three months, ten per 
cent, of the whole population fell vic- 
tims to the scourge. 

" July 2. Koszta's release demanded of 
Smyrna by Capt. Ingraham. 

" Children's Aid Society founded in New 
York by Charles L. Brace. 

Filibustering. 
" Fililiustering expedition of William 
AValker to Sonora, Mexico. He landed 
at a small town called La Paz, and 
meeting with little resistance, he pro- 
claimed "An Independent Republic of 
Lower California," with himself Presi- 
dent. He very soon evacuated the 
premises to save himself and company 
from starvation, lie surrendered him- 
self to the United States authorities at 
San Diego, and was tiied in San 
Francisco for a violation of the neu- 
trality laws and acquitted 552 

Kncnv-Nothings. 

1854. Americnn or Know-Nothing Society iorvaQii, 

which carried the elections in nearly 
all the Northern States, their watch- 
word being, " Put none hut Americans 
on guard." ^' Let Americans rule 
America." 
" rrohihition law passed in New York and 
Pennsylvania 552 

Loss of the ^'Arctic." 

" Loss of the steamship Arctic, Collins 
line, through collision with the iron 
steamer Vesta, during a fog. Ilun- 
ilreils of lives and millions of treasure 
■(vcre lost. 

" Fell. 2S. American mail-steamer Black 
Viirrior seized at Havana. 

" War. 31. Commercial treaty between 
United States and Japan signed.. . 551 

" Stephen A. Douglas' popular sovereignty 
or Kansas-Nebraska bill passed, which 
caused great excitement in Congress 
and all over the country 532 

" Virtual repeal of the Missouri Compro- 
mise 553 

" First Railroad from Lake Michigan to 
the Mississippi — the Rock Island. 

" June 12. Bombardment of Greytown, 
Central America, by the American ship 
Cyarie, upon refusal of the authorities 
to pay alleged damages for the de- 
struction of United States prop- 
erty 551 

" Aug. 2. Reciprocity treaty with Great 
Britain ratified respecting the New- 
foundland fisheries, international trade, 
etc 551 

" Sliooting of Malcolm Taylor by McCrea, 
a lawyer in K msas, during a political 
discussion. Much excitement ensued, 
and the people threatened to lynch 
McCrea 5-)3 

" Invention of the iron-tower for iron-clad 
vessels by Ericsson. 

1855. Attack upon the United States steamer 

11 liter Wllch in the River Parana, by 
the Paraguayans. 

" Comiiletion of Niagara Suspension 
Bridge. 

" United Stales Court of Cla'ms estab- 
lished. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



775 



4855. Groat emigration to Kansas. Opposi- 
tion Govern monts were lormed by tlie 
pro-slavery and anti- slavery partii-s. 
Election riots ensued 552 

Walker, the Filibuster. 

" Nicaragua invaded, during a revolution, 
by William Walker, with a band of 
filibusters. After considerable skir- 
mishing he captured the city and gar- 
rison of Granada, and Nicaragua was 
in his power. A negotiation and 
treaty of peace was agreed upon be- 
tween him and Corral, the leader of 
the Legitimists, and Don Patricio lii- 
vas was declared Provisional President, 
with Walker as General-in-chief of the 
army. But soon after, detecting Cor- 
ral in a plot to upset the new Govern- 
ment, Walker had him arrested, tried 
by court-martial, and shot in the pres- 
ence of the whole army. 

Walker's success emboldened him (o 
aggressive acts, which soon brought 
his overthrow, and he was compelled 
to flee to the United States. He after- 
ward undertook two other expeditions, 
which in like manner failed. His last 
expedition was directed against the 
Bay of Islands, in possession of Great 
Britain, but which was about to be 
ceded to Honduras. He whs captured 
by British officers and delivered to the 
Honduran authorities, by whom he 
was imprisomd, trierl, and shot. . . 553 

" July. Dispute with Great Britain con- 
cerning the attempt to recruit for the 
Crimean army. 

" Sept. 7. First Hebrew Temple in the 
Mississippi valley consecrated at St. 
Louis. 

" Oct. 17. The bark Maiiray seized at 
New York on suspicion of being in- 
tended for the Russian war service — 
discharged the 19th. 

" Oct. 24. Snow in Louisville, Ky., and 
Nashville, Tenn. 

" Dec. 23. I^ritish discovery ship liexohite, 
abandoned in the Arctic Sea by her 
crew, was brought to New London, 
Ct., by a whaler. 

Hoosac Tunnel. 

1856. Hoosac Tunnel begun. This tunnel is 
one of the grandest achievements in 
modern engineering. It is cut through 
the Hoosac Mountain, near the town 
of Adams In the north-western part of 
Massachusetts; and — except the Mt. 
Cenis Tunnel through the Swiss Alps — 
is the longest tunnel in the world, 
being 4} miles long, and in its widest 
point 26 feet by 21), and 24 feet high, 
and admits of two lines of railroad 
trains. It is on the Troy and Green- 
field line, and was begun by that rail- 
road, but in 185+ the State passed an 
Act authorizing a loan of the State 
credit to enable them to complete it. 
In 1862 the State assumed the entire 
responsibility and control of the pro- 
ject. 

" John Brown's victory at Ossawattomie. 

" Ocean telegrajjh projected. 

" Republican party established. There 
were three parties in the Presidential 
campaign, Democratic, Know-Nothing, 
and Republican (or Free Soil). 

" Type-setting machine invented by Timo- 
thy Aldcn. 



Jan. 23. Loss of the Collins steamer 
Pacific, Capt. Asa Eldridge, which left 
Liverpool for New Yoik on tliis date, 
after wliiili \\ v~:,- <■.. ». , I;eard from. 

Pel). Coiif,:-' ' ..f the HoiLsc 

of Hepresnii ,, ; , r ! i ii; two months, 
settled by [iLiMti ■, \:ii liaiiiel P. Banks, 
of Massachusttts, in tlie chair. 

April 11. Great bridge across the Mis- 
sissijjpi at Rock Island completed. 

April. 15. AflTray at Panama between 
the passengers of the American Transit 
Company and the natives. Thirty pas- 
sengers killed and tweuty woundccl. 

Assault upon Sumner. 

May. Brutal assault of Preston S. Brooks 
upon Charles Sumner in the Senate 
Chamber, occasioned by his speech, 
" Crime against Kansas." For full par- 
ticulars, see biography of Sumner. 

May 18. Trial and execution of the 
murderers Casey and Corey, by the 
San Francisco Vigilance Committee. 

First wood-type made by machinery by 
Wm. H. Page. 

President Pierce, in his Message, de- 
clared the creation of a free State Gov- 
ernment in Kansas an act of rebel- 
lion 552 

May 28. Dismissal of Mr. Cramptnu, 
the British Envoy at Washington, by 
our Government 552 

Juno 17. First nominating Republican 
Convention held at Philadelphia. 
John C. Fremont chosen for President, 
and William L. Dayton, Vice-President. 
The two important planks in the new 
platform being anti-slavery and anti- 
polygamy 552 

Introduction of sorghum, or Chinese 
sugar-cane. 

July. Raising of the safe of the Ameri- 
can Express Company, which was lost 
on the steamer Atlantic in 1852, by a 
Buflalo diver. Its contents were well 
pre-erved. 

Aug. 10. Lost Island, a summer resort 
on the Louisiana coast, submerged 
during a violent storm of three days; 
17o persons were lost. 

Aug. 21. Famous Charter-oak at Hart- 
ford blown down. 

Aug. 28. Dudley Observatory at Albany 
inaugurated. 

Nov. 9. Death of John Middleton Clay- 
ton, at Dover, Del. ^^ 

Dec. The Resolute purchased from its 
discoverers, and refitted Isiir the United 
States, is presented to the British 
Government, at Portsmouth, England, 
by Capt. Hartstein, on behalf of the 
United States. 

Loom patented for weaving Axminster 
carpet-;, by Alexander Smith and Hal- 
cyon bkinner. The looms of this es- 
tablishment at Yonkers, upon the Hud- 
son River, produce annually 200,000 
yards, which equals the whole amount 
produced annually in England. 

Political alliance between Chili, Ecuador, 
Peru, and Costa Rica. 

Fenians. 

Organization of the Fenian Brother- 
hood under the name of the Emmett 
Monument Association. 

Feb. 16. Death of Elisha Kent Kane at 
Havana. 

March 4. James Buchanan inaugurated 



President, with John C. Breckenridge 

for Vice-President .... 5.")2 

Robert J. Walker app anted Territorial 
Governor of Kansas by the Presi- 
dent ! SIW 

Dreii Scott Decision. 

Mar. 6. The fomous Dred Scott De- 
cision, by Chiif Justice Taney, was 
made known ; a [jassage in which 
these words foimd expression, "Slaves 
have no rights which the white man is 
bound to respect," and which were 
generally attributed to that document 
for their origin, but which the defend- 
ers of Judge Taney claim whs but a 
quotation of the sentiments of the peo- 
ple ;it the time the Consiitution was 
writtrn 5.^:1 

Fir.-ii altcmpt to lay the Atlantic Cable. 
It was coiled upm two vessels, the 
Unitrd Mites steamship Niagara and 
the iiritish f.\.i:&mcr Agamemnon. They 
I'roceedid to mid-ocean, and each ves- 
sel sailed toward their respective coun- 
tries, laying the cable. After the wire 
had twice broken, the attempt was 
abandoned, but renewed again, the 
end being fastened at Valencia Bay, 
and payed out again til! exhausted, 
when the other vessel joined the 
wires and completed the enterprise. 
This cable worked well for a time, but 
was finally abandoned. 

Patent issued to Charles Alden for con- 
densed milk. 

Great Financial Crisis. 
A great and extensive financial " crash," 
caused by wild speculation, extrava- 
gance, and "'stock gambling." The 
terrible effects of this "crisis" were 
felt the whole length and breadth 
of the land. The rich were ruined by 
thousands, and great distress prevailed 
among tlie poor. 

Murder of Dr. Burdell. 
Mysterious murder of Dr. Burdell, a 
wealthy New York dentist, in his own 
office. Arrest and trial of Mrs. Cun- , 
iiingham, the well-known "mistress" 
of the doctor. The evidence, which 
was piu-ely circumstantial, was of a 
vtry strong character, and the com- 
munity and the whcde country were 
convinced of her guilt, but she was ac- 
quitted by the jury for want of legal 
proof A deep-laid scheme was revealed 
soon after her acquittal, which con- 
firmed her guilt in the minds of the ^ 
public. She at first endeavored to 
prove that she was the legal wife of 
Dr. Burdell, but her certificate of mar- 
ria;j;e was proven a " sham." She next 
attempted to prove that she was about 
to become a mother, and actually pre- 
tended to be in labor, when the phy- 
sician whom she had engaged to at- 
tend her turned State's evidence, and 
revealed the whole plot. He had con- 
nived with the District Attorney, and 
at the time of her pretended confine- 
ment the officers of the law were let 
into the house, and the whole shame- 
ful and fraudulent transaction was ex- 
posed. A new-born infant was pro- 
cured by her ''physician " from a Iios- 
])ital, aud for which Mrs. Cunningham 
herself had, in disguise, appeared with 
a basket, and carried to her house. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



'I'lii' \',I].il. Iran ,11 lion was published 

l:i; ::■ i ^^ ■!' ^ ' ' .r„S thoroVf/hh/ 

"i the crime of 
iniii'!. ] ;, ■ I il.r liH III the hands of its 
niiini|iulali.rs lu'lil tliis lioUl, bad w Om- 
an innocent of the murder of Dr. Bur- 
dell, and slie was allowed to remain 
unmolested after the revelation of the 
terrible plot which she had laid to se- 
cure his property ! 

Zoss of the " Central America.'" 
Foundering of the steamer Central 

America off Cape Hatteras. Over 400 

lives and $3,000,00(1 lost. 
Trouble with the Mormons in Utah. 

Col. Johnston, with a military force, 

sent out to enforce the laws. 



Mexican Revolution. 
-GO. The Congress of Mexico adopted a 
Constitution and provided for a popu- 
lar election. In July, General Comou- 
fort was elected President. A military 
rebellion ensued, and the new Presi- 
dent was driven from the capitol and 
General Zuloga was appointed in bis 
place. Meanwhile Juarez, the great 
Indian statesman, master-spirit and 
representative of IJepuMicanism, who 
was also Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court, and President itro tern., accord- 
ing to the Constitution, proceeded to 
establisli his Government at Vera Cruz. 
A reign of terror and outlawry ensued, 
and no foreign or American citizen 
was safe in Mexico. The Republicans 
at last triumphed, and peace was re- 
stored. 

Sept. 15. Brigbam Young forbids any 
armed force entering Salt Lake City on 
any pretense; he orders the Mormon 
troops to hold themselves in readiness, 
and declares martial law. 

Sept. 215. The Philadelphia banks sus- 
pend specie payments. 

Oct. 14. New York banks suspend specie 
payments. 

Oct. 15. Boston banks suspend sjiecie 
payments. 

Dec. 13. New York l>anks resume specie 
payments. 

Dec. 14. Boston banks resume specie 
payments. 

Religious Revival. 

-8. Great religious revival, apparently the 
result of the "crash" in the business 
and tinancial world, the ruin of which 
was wide-sj^read. Daily prayer-meet- 
ings were held in every city and town. 

Morphy, the Chess-Flayer. 

Wonderful performances of Paul Morphy, 
the young American chess-player. He 
was considered a " prodigy " at chess 
when a lad, and at the age of 22 he 
was voted the " World's Chess Cham- 
pion." 

April 10. Death of Thomas Hart Ben- 
ton at Washington, aged 70. 

April 30. Congress passed a bill admit- 
ting Kansas into the Union, under 
the Lecompton (pro-slavery) Constitu- 
tion 553 

Exciting Campaign. 
Lincoln ((ml Boxiglai Mmpaign in IlUnois. 



Hilar 



il'iifi to a seat in 
till- fnih I'll, < iir made a tour 
of tlir Si .: iiig the merits 

of their I' [' 1 1 \ i-iiia-;. It was one 
of the most uuled politiL-al campaigns 
upon record. 
May IS. Minnesota admitted to the 
Union. 

Morrissey and Hccnan. 

Bloody and brutal prize-fight between 
Jolin Morrissey and John C. Heenan. 
The stakes were $2,500 a side. Mor- 
rissey was declared the victor, and 
liailed as the champion of America. 
See biography. 

Jan. 14. "Governor Cummiiig, of Utah, 
jwrih.nsall tr.ason iin.l snliliun here- 

117//,.//« 11. ,SV,r„r,/ a.iiiinin.aal Ills "Irre- 
pressible Coullicf doctrine, which 
startled the country and aroused the 
pro-slavery element to much opijosi- 
tion. 

Aug. 3. The people of Kansas voted to 
reject the Lecompton Constitution by 
an overwhelming majority 553 

Aug. 16. First message sent across the 
Atlantic by cable from Queen Victoria 
to President Buchanan. 



Broderick and Terry Duel 

Sept. 13. Duel between Hon. David 
Broderick, United States Senator from 
California, and Hon. D. S. Teri-y, Chief 
Justice of that State. Broderick was 
mortally wounded and died the 15lh. 
Terry escaped on a steamer and landed 
in Sacramento. 

Two American vessels captured by a 
Peruvian steamer by order of Castella, 



Bur> 



of the "Austria." 



Sept. Burning of the steamship Austria, 
from Hamburg to New York, with SbS 
persons on board, and but 07 of all the 
living human freight were saved. The 
ship took fire from abucketof tar wliich 
was used, with a hot iron, for fumigat- 
ing the shij). This was one of the most 
terrible and shocking disasters at sea 
ever recorded. 

The Fenian Organization perfected waAcr 
the active and efficient agency of John 
O'iMahoney, who became its " head 
center" in the United States. 

Feb. 10. Treaty between United States 
and Paraguay. 

F(b. 14. Oregon admitted into the 
Union 553 



Petroleum. 

First oil-well bored at Titusville, Pa., by 
Col. Drake, of New Havrn, Conn., anil 
during the 17 years following, the total 
yield from the Peniisvlvania oil-wells 
was 55,401,3111 bbls. of4U gals. each. 



Great Flood. 

Great storm and flood extending over the 
entire Middle and part of the Northern 
and Southern States — rain tailing in 
torrents forty consecutive hours — re- 
sulting in immense loss of property and 
many lives. 



The Sickles Affair. 



Feb. 37. Shooting of Philip Barton Kev, 
District Attornev for the District of 
. Daniel E. Sickles, 
- - fmn-i New York, 
I his wife upon her 
iLih sncia! I'osition 
-lal.ilitv i.r Ihepar- 
li.hiMii-nlah'e affair, 
' pularityof 



Columbia, by lb 
Member of ( m;- 
for the si-.lu.-iii.n 
confession, 'i'lii- 
and eminent re.s| 
ties concerned in 
and the great bea 

Mrs. Sickles, produced the mist wide 
spread and intense interest and excite- 
ment. 

Mr. Sickles met Mr. Key upon the 
public streets of Washington, in open 
day, and, accusing him of his crime, 
shot him dead. He was immediately 
arrested, and Ihe following April was 
frii.I lor nuinh-r. <;rrat ' (-x.-ilenient 
])r, vaih-ililiirinu- tln-uhoh- trial, which 
was i.iil.lisheil i-ntin- in all tlu- leading 
newsjjapers of the laud. At the con- 
clusion of the trial he was acquitted. 
As the words "not guilty" fell from 
the lips of the foreman, there arose one 
wild and tumultuous hurrah from the 
vast concourse which thronged the 
court. Cheer after cheer went up, 
which was repeated by the multitude 
outside. Mr. Sickles was immediately 
surrounded by a host of Iriends, who 
bore him in triumph from the court- 
room. The news of his acquittal 
spread like wildfire throughout the 
city and country, and was received 
with general satisfaction. 

Mr. Sickles had but one child, a 
lovely little girl, of but few years of 
age. 

Mrs. Sickles manifested the most in- 
tense grief and remorse, and in every 
possible way expressed her sorrow and 
repentance to her husband and friends. 
In a short time after the trial her hus- 
baiul forgave his erring wife, and re- 
ceived her into his heart and home 
again. But this ruined and sorrowful 
woman lived but a few years after this 
teriible tragedy. 

Mr. Sickles afterward served, with 
honor and distinction, in the war, and 
was promoted to the rank of Major- 
General. He was also sent as Minis- 
ter to the Court of Spain immediately 
after the flight of Queen Isabella. 

March. The Free-State party of Kansas 
met at Wyandotte and framed a new 
Constitution, which was duly ratified 
by the people 553 

March 2a. Quito destroyed by an earth- 
quake. 

May 11. Vicksburg Convention resolves 
in favor of opening the slave trade. 

Guayaquil, S. A., destroyed by fire. 

Worcester's large Dictionary published. 

July 9. Gen. Harney occupies San Juan 
Island, W. T. ; danger of collision with 
Great Britain. 

Grand March of the "Potato Pug." 

First appearance of the " Colorado 
beetle," or " potato bug," in districts 
where the cultivated potato was raised. 
This insect had been observed as quite 
common on the Upper Missouri in 1824, 
feeding on a wild plant called the 
sand-burr, which belongs to the same 
genus with the potato. Its first 
arrival among " civilized " potatoes 
was about 100 miles west from Omaha, 
where the insect soon increased and 



CHRONOLOGY. 



777 



spread at a marvelous rate. It in- 
vaded Iowa in 1861 ; Wisconsin, 1863; 
and by 1866 it had spread over the 
entire country west of a line from 
Chicafjo to St. Louis. In 1874 it had 
reached the Atlantic coast in numerous 
places, thus showing their rate of 
travel to have been 1,500 miles in a 
direct line within fifteen years, besides 
spreading over an area of 500,000 
square miles. 

John Brown's Capture of Harper s 
Ferry. 
Oct. 16. Captain .John Brown, a veteran 
Abolitionist, had long cheiished a de- 
sire to liberate the negroes of the South 
from slavery. lie had been a life- 
long enemy of the system, and a rad- 
ical anti-slavery man. He was in the 
Kansas battles for freedom, and par- 
ticipated in the battle of Ossawattomie, 
from which he derived the name of 
" Ossawattomie Brown." He had en- 
listed a few followers in his scheme 
of invading Virginia and freeing the 
slaves, and fully expected that his ap- 
pearance among them would he a 
" watchword for freedom," and that, 
when the first blow was struck, they 
would unanimously rise and assert 
their liberty. His plans seem like 
those of an insane mind, more than 
those of a general, or an experienced 
statesman. With a little handful of 
men, of whom seventeen were whites 
and five colored, this mistaken philan- 
thropist and fanatic invaded the State 
of Virginia, and succeeded in captur- 
ing the Government Armory buildings, 
containing a vast quantity of arms 
and ammunition, the railroad bridge, 
and taking prisoners the keepers of 
the Arsenal, the watchmen, and bridge- 
tenders. To the prisoners, who in- 
quired as to the object of his proceed- 
ings, he answered: "To free the 
slaves."' To the question by what 
authority it was done, he replied : 
"By the authority of God Almighty." 
Brown seemed to be impressed with 
the idea that God had chosen him to 
be the instrumentality in freeing the 
negroes from slavery. 

Soon the tidings spread, and an 
armed force appeared. They attacked 
the engine-house where Brown and 
his associates were gathered, and were 
repulsed by the brave old man. Several 
■were killed on both sides. Great ex- 
citement prevailed. Military com- 
panies arrived from diflFerent places. 

The news spread to Washington, 
Baltimore, and Richmond, and pro- 
duced the wildest excitement, and 
troops were instantly ordered to the 
scene of action. Col. Robert D. Lee, 
with a company of United States Ma- 
rines and two field-pieces, was sent 
from Washington, and with their com- 
bined force lirovvn and his men were 
finally captured. He was greeted with 
execrations, and one of the Government 
officers struck him with a sabre several 
times in the face, which knocked him 
down, and another soldier ran a bay- 
onet twice into the body of the pros- 
trate old man. But he was protected 
from further violence by the soldiers. 
He was immediately indicted for 
treason and murder by the Virginia 



authorities. He asked for time, on 
account of his severe wounds, which 
was denied, and he was tried on the 
36th of October in Charlestown, Va. 
Brown being unable to sit up, lay upon 
a mattress during his trial, which 
lusted three days. He was found 
guilty of the charges i^referred, and 
sentenced to be hung on the 3d of 
December. On being asked why sen- 
tence should not be passed upon him, 
he replied, in a gentle and mild voice : 
" I deny everything but the design on 

my part to free the slaves That 

was all I intended. I never did in- 
tend murder, or treason, or the destruc- 
tion of property, or to excite or incite 
the slaves to rebellion, or to make in- 
surrection." His kind, gentle, and 
patient manner, and his sincere re- 
ligious fervor deeply impressed even 
his enemies ; and his great courage 
and bravery elicited the admiration of 
all who witnessed both his defense at 
the Arsenal and his manly fortitude 
during his trial. Governor Wise said 
of him : " He is a bundle of the best 
nerves I ever saw, cut and thrust, and 
bleeding in bonds, lie is a man of 
clear head, of courage and fortitude, 
and simple ingenuousness. He is cool, 
collected, and indomitable, and in- 
spired me with great trust in his in- 
tegrity as a man of truth." Two of 
his sons were shot and eleven of his 
men were killed ; four escaped and 
the rest were taken prisoners. 

Upon the arrival of the hour for his 
execution he walked coolly and calmly 
out of the jail, his countenance radiant 
anil his step elastic. A colored woman, 
with a child in her arms, stood near. 
He paused, and stooping, kissed the 
child. The colored people, as he 
passed, blessed him. His proud and 
manly bearing as he ascended the 
scaflbld and calmly gazed about him, 
and his great courage and insensibility 
to fear, filled even the armed soldiers 
with amazement. His firmness an<l 
courage continued to the last. He 
died like a hero, winning the admira- 
tion of the military, the sheriff, the 
jailor, and the undertaker. The citizens 
were not permitted to witness his 
execution. His body was sent to his 
family at North Elba, N. Y., where an 
eloquent eulogy was pronounced by 
Wendell Phillips at the place of bur- 
ial 553 

Nov. 11. Buenos Ayres reunited to the 
Argentine Republic. 

Kansas Free. 

Dee. 6. An undisputed election was held 
in Kansas under the new Constitution, 
and Republican oSieers and Members 
of Congress elected 553 

Great Bonanza Mine. 

Com stock Lode originally discovered by 
James Fennimore, known as "old 
Finney," who, not knowing its value, 
sold it to P. Comstock for an old, bob- 
tailed Indian pony and a quantity of 
whisky. Comstock himself being 
ignorant of the immense value of the 
lode, disposed of his entire claim for 
some $4,000 or $5,000, which property, 
in less than a year, sold for more 



than 11,000,000. Under the manage- 
ment of Flood & O'Biicn, it has snce 
proved to be the richest silver mine in 
tliC woild. 

The Uniied States sent Mr. iicLane to 
recognize the GovernnKnt of Juarez, 
witli w honi he negotiated a treaty 
satisfactory to both Governments. 

Triumph of Mexican liheralism under 
Juarez, over the Church party, after a 
revolution of near twcntv years. 

Fmbgssy from Japan. 
Grand Embassy from Japan, with a treaty 
of peace and commerce, to the United 
States, being the first Ambassadors 
ever sent to any nationality by that 
empire. 'I'lio Ambassadors were treated 
witli great rrspict Ky the Government 
otheials and the (itizcns of Washing- 
tun. The peculiarity of their dress, 
customs, and manners excited much 
curiosity. 

Prince of Wales. 

Tour of Ihr Prince of Wales through the 
Uniied States. He was everywhere 
received with marks of respect and 
dislinction, and the unbounded hospi- 
talities of the nation and people were 
extended to him. 

Expedition of Charles Francis Hall to the 
Polar Sea in search of Dr. Franklin. 

April 33. Democratic Convention met 
at Charleston, S. C, to nominate can- 
didates for the office of Pre-ident and 
Vice-President. The delegates from 
the " Cotton States" withdrew, and the 
Convention adjourned to meet in Bal- 
timore in June 554 

Chicago "JFigwam." 
May 19. Republican Convention met in 
Chicago, in a vast building erected for 
the purpose, and called the " Wig- 
wam," and nominated Abraham Lin- 
coln for President, and Hannibal Ham- 
lin, of Maine, for Vice-President . . 554 
The Constitution Union (late "Ameri- 
can" party) also met in convention, 
and nominated John Bell, of Tenn., for 
President, and Edward Everett, of 
Mass., Vice-President 554 

Doug/as' Nomination. 

June 18. Democratic Convention met, and 
Stcjjhen A. Douglas was nominated 
for President, and Herschel V. John- 
son for Vice-President 554 

June 18. The same day the seceding 
delegates from the "Cotton States" 
nommated .John C. Breckenridge, of 
Ky., President, and Joseph Lane, from 
Oregon, Vice-President 554 

The " Great Eastern." 

June 38. Arrival at New York of the 
English iron steamship Oreat Eastern, 
J. V. Hall, commander, being the 
largest vessel ever constructed since 
"Noah's Ark," and was capable of car- 
rying 10,000 soldiers, besides her crew 
of 4C0. Her arrival had been expect- 
ed, and great interest and excitement 
were caused upon the announcement. 
The wharves, buildings, adjoining 
streets, and, indeed, every available 
si)ot which afforded a view of the 



778 



CHRONOLOGY. 



18G0. mammoth steamer was densely crowd- 
ed willi anxious spedators. The har- 
bor and river were alive with all man- 
ner (if craft to get a near view of the 
great and wonderful, world-renowned 
ship. 

The passage over the liar, which was 
considered a very c riii'nl nn '. rtaldng, 
was conducted by Mr, Mui|iliy, who 
silently, with a siin|)li' w:i\r of the 
hand, indicating to the helmsman the 
course to be pursued, safely and skill- 
fully guided this^hnge monster ofthe 
waves over the dangerous bar and into 
the North Kivi'r. Grandly and proudly 
slie iiiovi.l amid a sea of sails, gay 
with l.iiimer- and streaming pennants 
like a Miiixlitv kviathan in the mid-t 
of a seliool of tlvint; tish. The boom- 
ing of cannon, ringing of bells, and the 
slnill shrieking of liiuidreds of steam- 
whistles, together with the music of 
brass bands, and the climes of Trinity 
Church pla\ing "Rule, Britannia," al- 
togi ther made a scene long to be re- 
membered by those who witnessed it. 
For many weeks after her arrival, the 
Great Eastern was visited by tens of 
thousands, who were eager to insjjcct 
the marvelous structure. Her length 
was 680 feet, and she was of aliout 
20,000 tons burden ; 10,000 tons of iron 
were used in constructing her hull. 
The force used in moving the ma- 
chinery of this immense ship would 
drive forty of the largest cotton mill 
which give employment to over 30,000 
operatives. The Great Uastern was 
used for laying the Atlantic cable, and 
proved to be of indispensable value 



Impending Crisis- 

Great agitation in Congress over a book 
entitled "The Impending Cri^i3," 
written by Hinton R. Helper, showing 
by arguments, statistics, and examples 
that slavery was injurious to the inter- 
ests of the South 554 

July. Death of Charles Goodyear, the 
inventor of the process of harden 
ing india-rubber. Mr. Goodyear en- 
dured every trial which the poor in- 
ventor is subject to, and at last died 
poor, to leave a rich legacy to the pub- 
lic, by which hundreds and thousands 
have become wealthy, and the public 
greatly benefited. 



Magnificent Reception. 

Oct. 12. Grand ball given in honor of 
the Piince of Wales at the Academy of 
Music in New York. It was the greatest 
affair of the kind ever known in this 
country. Over 3,000 of the elite of 
New York present. 



Election of Lincoln. 

Nov. 6. Abraham Lincoln was elected' 
President, with Hannibal Hamlin for 
Vice-Pnsident. Great excitement pre- 
vailed all over the Union. Universal 
rejoicing (with very few exceptions) at 
tlie North, and general dissatisfaction 
at the South. Threats of secession and 
fears of civil war caused great depres- 
sion in business, and the Government 
credit was shaken 554 



Buchanan favors Secession. 

Dec. 3. President Buchanan, in his 
Message, ndvised nn nniendment of the 



Constiti 
ing the ri 
property 



tlic'l'. 



- whriv ^liivi'ry does 
in laxor of llieir pro- 
■ss in tlii-, rii,dit in all 
.il:nlnntlr,l us States; 
and :Jd, in lavor of the right of the 
master to capture his slaves who had 
escaped to another State — thereby at- 
testing the validitv of the Fiiriitive 
SJ.ir, "r./-- Tl,' a'i, vi-c fiirtlior de- 



Great agitation was caused in Congress 
by this Message, both pro-slavery 
and anti-slavery members denouncing 
it ; 504 



Secession of South Carolina. \ 

" Dec. 20. Convention met in Charleston, 
S. C, which passed an ordinance of se- 
cession, and ordered the seizure of the 
Federal property within the limits of 
the State 554 

" Dec. 21. A Senatorial Committee of 13 
met to consider the distracted state of 
the country, tivc of the committee 
being Kepuijlicaus, five from the slave- 
liolding States, and three Northern 
Democrats. The committee failed to 

" Dec. 29. Major Anderson, with a small 
band of Federal soldiers, transferred 
his command from Fort Moultrie, in 
Charleston Harbor, to Fort Sumter, the 
principal fort of defense. The remain- 
ing forts were immediately seized by 
the State authorities, and additional 
defenses were made to protect the 
city 554 

" Ecuador invaded by Peru under Gen. 
Castella, whose assassination was at- 
tempted. 

" The Parro't gun introduced by Robert 
R. Parrott, and was extensively used 
during the war of the Rebellion. 

Secession of the South. 

18G1. Jan. 7. Florida passed a secession or- 
dinance 554 

" Jan. 9. Mississippi joined the seceding 
States 554 

" Jan. 11. Alabama passed a secession or- 
dinance 554 

" Jan. 19. Georgia united with the seces- 
sion States 554 

" Jan. 25. Louisiana joined the seceding 
States 554 

First Act of Rebellion. 

" Jan. First overt act of the Rebellion was 
the tiring upon the Government steam- 
er Star if the West by the South Caro- 
lina State troops 554 

" Feb. 1. Texas joined the seceding 
States. 

" Fell. 4. Peace Convention assembled in 
Washington. Delegates from all the 
Northern States assembled 555 

" Feb. 4. Delegates from the seceding 
States assembled at Montgomery, Ala- 
bama, and formed a new compact, 
called the "Confederate States of 



America," and established a Provision- 
al Government, with Jefferson Davis as 
President and Alexander H. Stevens as 
Vicp-President 555 

Abraliam Lim ,,Iii, the President-elect of 
the fnitrd ;-lates, left his home in 
Spiinntirld. 111., amid the sorrowful 
and luiiviisal icunt and secret forebod- 
ings of Ids I'liends, to repair to the 
cipit.il of the n.itinii, and enter upon* 
tlie arduous duties of his office. . . 555 

Feb. 14. Jefferson Davis made President 
of the Confederates. He raised troops 
ami armed for w.ar. 

Fell. 2'2. The President tarried in Phila- 
ilclplda to phmt the flag of the Union 
upon the Hall of Independence, but the 
eatlnrini; stonn in Baltimnre led his 
friends to fear for his safety, and he 
was iHTsuteleil to take the ni'ght train 
for Washington. He tu rived' safely at 
the capital the follouiug moining._ 555 

Feb. 2ii. West Virginia was admitted 
into the Union 55G 

Inauguration of Lincoln. 

March 4. The inauguration ceremonies 
of President Lincoln were attended 
with the protection of the United 
States troops under Lieut.-General 
Scott 555 

Overtures for a peaceful separation from 
the South rejected by the North. 

March 11. Tlie seceding States met at 
Jlontgomery an<I adopted a Constitu- 
tion, with "slavery as a chief corner- 
stone 555 

March 11. Kansas, Colorado, and Dakota 
organized into Territories 555 

Seizure of Southern Forts. 

The South seized the most of the defensive 
fortifications within their borders, 
some 30 in number, mounting over 
3.000 guns, and costing |20,000,000. 
Also the navy yard and arsenals were 
seized, together with the entire army 
of the frontier, with all its equipments, 
revenue cutters, mints, custom-houses, 
and sub-treasuries, amounting to ^20,- 
000,000 more 555 

Sumter Bombarded- 

April 12. Bombardment of Fort Sum- 
ter. Gen. Beauregard opened fire from 
all the forts and batteries. Edmund 
Ruffin, of Virginia, a white-haired old 
man, fired the first gun. Maj. Ander- 
son, with but a handful of men, and 
without an ounce o.f bread in store, 
bravely defended the old fort for 34 
hours, Capt. Doubleday firing the first 
gun. He received the unceasing fire from 
47 heavy guns and mortars, throwing 
2,300 shot and 980 shells into the fort, 
during which not a man was hurt. 
After the barracks had been burning 
for several hours, the magazine sur- 
rounded by fire and the main gates of 
the fort destroyed, Maj. Anderson sur- 
rendered the fort to the rehels, but 
only upon the most honorable condi- 
tions.. 55G 

Lincoln Calls for 75,000 Troops. 
April 15. President Lincoln issued a call 
for 75,000 troops to suppress the Rebel- 
lion in the South, and was answered 



CHRONOLOGY. 



779 



liv 300,000 volunteers eager to en- 
list 550 



Blockade Frodatnation. 

April 17. President Lincoln issued a 
proclamation announcing the blockade 
of tlic Southern ports. 

April 17. Virginia resolved to secede 
from the Ilniim, and steps were taken 
to secure the Federal property 550 



Baltimore Mob. 

April 19. The 6th Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, in passing through Baltimore, 
were fired upon by a secession mob ; 
a company of the regiment returned 
lire, and 11 of the mob were killed 
and four wounded. Three of the sol- 
diers were slain and eight wounded. 
Ten unarmed Companies of the Phila- 
delphia Washington Brigade were also 
attacked and retired to Philadelphia. 
'J his was the first blood shed in the 
Rebellion. 

April 20. Larp;e amount of property at 
the navy yard and fort at Norfolk, Va., 
destroyed by the Union commander, 
Capt. McCauley, upon the approach of 
a rebel military force to seize it. . . . 556 

April 24. The rebels occupy the fort 
and hoist their flag 550 

Maryland Loyal. 

April 27. The Legislature of Maryland 
decided not to secede from tlie 



Colonel Ellsworth. 

May. Colonel Ellsworth, a brave and 
efficient officer in coDimand of the 
New York Fire Zouaves, was shot by 
Jackson while removing a secession 
flag from his hotel in Alexandria. 
Jaclson was in turn sliot by Frank E. 
Brownell, a Union soldier 558 

May 2. Missouri turned over to the reb- 
els the entire control of the military 
and ijccuniary resources of the 
State 557 

May 3. Government calls for 42,000 ad- 
ditii>nal volunteers for three years, and 
ten regiments were added to the regu- 
lar army 556 

May 4. A large Union meeting held in 
Baliimore. 

May 6. Tennessee passed an ordinance 
of secession — East Tennessee voting 
largely against it. 

Arkansas seeded from the Union. 

May 10. Capt. Lyon, aided by Col. 
Blair, at the head of 6,000 armed 
Union volunteers, surrounded the State 
Guard formed at Fort Jackson, in the 
interests of theRebelHon, and demand- 
ed its surrender, which was imme- 
diately complied with 557 

May 12. Gen. Wm. S. Harney took com- 
mand of the Union forces in Missis- 
sippi. He entered into a compact with 
Gen. Price, the rebel leader, to re- 
store peace to Missouri, which act was 
repudiated by the Federal Govern- 
ment, and he was replaced by Gen. 
Lyon 557 

May 13. Gen. Butler occupied the city 
of Baltimore 556 



West Virginia Repudiates Secession. 

"West Virginia met in Convention, and 
formally repudiated the secession of 
the State 556 

May 16. The rebels burn several bridges 
on the Baltimore and Ohio li.R.. . . 557 

May 20. North Carolina passed a seces- 
sion ordinince. Arkans.is also re- 
solved to secede and join the Con- 
federates 555 

May 20. 'J'he arsenal at St. Louis was de- 
fended by its commandant. Gen. Lyon, 
and secured to the Government, and 
its contents transferred to Springfield, 
111 557 

Contraband- 
Hay 22. Gen. Butler took command of the 
Union forces at Fortress Monroe, com- 
jjosed of 15,000 raw recruits, but who 
proved gallant soldiers. Gen. Butler 
protected some fugitive slaves, and re- 
fused to surrender them to the order 
of their master, declaring all rebel prop- 
erty contraband 558 

May 34. 10,000 Union troops advanced 
into Virginia by order of Gen. Scott. 

Fremont in Command. 

General Fremont appointed to the com- 
mand of the Western Department. 
He took vigorous measures to put 
down the Rebellion — confiscating the 
property of the rebels, also their slaves. 
For this he lost prestige with the War 
Department, and was shortly super- 
seded by Hunter. 

Gen. Seott submits four courses of action 
to the President, from which he must 
choose. 1. To surrender to slavery 
half the tvrrilnni ii,:i„irnlor to be ac- 
quired. 2. 7- hh.Aa.l.' all revolted 
■ports. 3. To s:nj I., Ill, s.rcding States, 
" Wayward ^/.^^ /m, ;/" in peace ; " or 4. 
To conquer the iSou'h. 

June 1. Gen. Patterson, with 20,000 
men, advanced from Chambersburg, 
Pa., to Hagerstown, Md 558 

June 1. The Savannah, a rebel privateer, 
captured a Union merchantman . . . 561 



Stephen A. Douglas. 
June 3. Stephen Arnold Douglas, ar 
American statesman, died at Chicago, 
He began the practice of law at Jack- 
sonville, 111., and before he was twenty- 
two years of age was elected Attorney- 
General of the State. In 1835 he be- 
came a Member of the Legislature ; in 
1837 he was appcinted Register of the 
Land-Office at Springfield ; in 1840 he 
was appointed Secretary of the State; in 
1841 he was elected Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of 111.; in 1843 he was elect- 
ed Member of Congress, and re-elected 
to a second terra ; in 1847 he was chosen 
United States Senator for the term of 
six years, which position he continued 
to hold until the time of his death ; 
in 1852 he was candidate for President 
of the United States, and again in 
1856, and received a nomination also 
again in 1860. In politics he was a 
Democrat. Mr. Douglas died in the 
midst of a splendid political career, 
and :U the l)eu'inning of the great Ciril 
war. llrlivi-.l long evi'i\i'i\i.- to express 
til, xi rii,,j, si 1,1 lings of loyalty to the 
UoL-u-nniint, and a warm sympathy for 



its noble defenders in their struggle to 
m.aintain its Union. 

June 1 1 . Battle at Komney. Va. 

June 11. West Vir;;inia, set a] art as a 
new State by the unanimous vote of the 
State and (Jcixirnnient, was formed in 
a'-cordance with the Federal Constitu- 
tion 556 

Jnne 14. Johnson evacuated Harper's 
Ferry. 

June. Gen. Price attacked Gen. Ma- 
grnder, and after four hours' action, 
loth sides retreattd. 

June. Battle at Fairfax Com t-House ; 
the enemy driven out 558 

An attack upon the Confederate battery 
at Big Bethel repulsed 558 

July 4. Congress met in extraordinary 
ses.sion. 

July 5. Battle near Carthage, Mo. 

July 11. B.ittle at Rich Mosntain, Va. 

July 18. Battle near Centreville, Va. 

Bull Bun Defeat. 

July 21. Battle of Bull Run, commanded 
respectively by Generals McDowell and 
Beauregard. 

The North, impatient of delay, wero 
crying, " On to Richmond." Gen. 
McDowell, with 30,00'l troops, mostly 
volunteers, attacked the main body of 
the rebels at Hull Run. The recruits 
f night hi;ii;hi, and the enemy leere 
rei,nU,,I, lial tiling reinforced by Jack- 
son's brigmle, th<y rennced the fight. 
The Union troops fou-ht gal antly and 
gained the plateau, %chen the enemy 
were again reinforced by Joseph E. 
Johnston^s army under Kirby Smith. 
The Union army now began a retreat, 
after thirteen hows of severe action, 
not having once been reinforced. Sud- 
denly a strange panic seized them, and 
they fled in wild disorder, leaving 
everything behind them. In this bat- 
tle the rebel Gen. T. J. Jackson received 
the name whii h he carried throughout 
the war — " Stonewall Jackson " — given 
him by one of his officers, who said, 
" There stands JacJcson, liie a stone 
wall," facing the enemy while his army 
were preparing to retreat SHn 

Destruction of the Petrel, a rebel pri- 
vateer, by the United States frigate 
St. Lawrence. The Petrel sank at the 
first broadside of the St Lavrence. 

July. Stonewall Jackjon invaded .Mary- 
land 558 

July. Battle of Laurel Hill. Gen. VlcClel- 
lan, with Gen. Kosecranz, attacked 
the rebel forces under Generals Garnett 
and Pegram, driving them across the 
mountains to Monterey 557 

Aug. 10. Gen. Sigel repulsed and Gen. 
Lvon killed in battle at Wilson's 
Creek 560 

Aug. 16. Gen. Butler succeeded by Gen. 
Wool. 

Aug. 28. Bombardment of rebel forts — 
Hatteras and Clark— by Gen. Butler. 

Aug. 29. The forts surrendered by Com. 
Barron 561 

Aug. 30. Fort Morgan abandoned by 
the rebels. 

Aug. 31. Fremont issues a proclama- 
tion freei7ig the slaves in Missouri. 

Sept. 3. Massacre on Hannilial and St. 
Joseph Railroad ; Platte bridge burned. 

Sept. 10. Battle of Camifex Ferry, be- 
tween Generals Rosecranz and Floyd. 
A short, but severe action took place. 



780 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1861. resulting in the retreat of Floyd in the 

night 557 

" Sept. K^. Kebel privateer Judah de- 

strnyed l>y tlie Fi'diTjlisls. 
*' Itelicls twice cl<-l'eifod in attacks on 

Cheat jMountiiin, West Virginia. Col. 

John A. Washini;ton, proprietor of 

IMount Vernon, killed 558 

" Sept. 20. Col. Mulligan surrenders 

Lexington, Mo., to the re! 'el Gen. Price 

niter tifty-nine hours without water. 

IjOss, 3,500 prisoners and a large 

amount of gold. 
" Oct. 3. Battle of Green Brier, Va. 

Kebels defeated with considerable loss. 
" Oct. 5. Heliels attack the Union troops 

at Chicomacomico, N. C, but were 

destructively shelled by the gun-boat 

Mo/itiolh and driven off. 
" The Sin-annah captured by the U. S. brig 

iVn-y ..5(;i 

" Oct. 9. Rebels repulseil by Wilson's 

Zouaves at Santa liosa Island 5()1 

" Oct. 11. The rebel privateer Nashville 

ran the blockade at Charleston and 

burned an American mercliantman in 

British waters. 
" Oct. 12. Kepul.se of the rebel ram and 

iireships by the Union fleet at S. W. 

Pass. 
" Escape of Slidell and Ma.son from Charles- 
ton. 
" Oct. 21. Battle of Fredericktown, Mo. 

Jeff. Thompson's flight 5i;0 

" Oct. Lexington, Mo., recaptured by 

Union troops. 
" Gen. W. T. Miirmaii appointed to the 

coMiniaQd of the Kentucky forces over 

Gen. Anders..n ." 5<50 

" Oct. 21. Alliaiic-c between England, 

Prance, and Spain lo take j.iint pos- 

tracted, an^l i uIiml:.'- eiminiitted ujiou 



Get. 'Jl. liaiile i.f i;>IIV i;lnff. Colonel 
Laker killed, and the Unionists de- 
feat .1. The slaughter was fearful, and 
Ge 1 Stone was charged with inef- 
tieiency. 

Oct. 2!). Rebels defeated at Springfifld, 
Mo., by Zagonyi. 

Nov. 1. Soldiers' Aid Society formed at 
Detroit. 

Nov. 2. Qen. Fremont superseded ly 
Ocn. Hauler, and his bodyguard, com- 
posed of the best material and enlisted 
for three vears, was mustered out by 
(,.„. Mrci.li.n, 5C.0 

K..V. f.. Gen. (ii ant .attacked Gen. Polk, 
Miutinj,^ iiMil burning his camp, raptur- 
in^Mbe en,,-, and. hiving the en. -my to 
t ;.• ]-\.r. <;.n. L..lk, i.inlui-e.-.l, took 



saved 



rms. 



Union l.iss 40U. Rebel loss t^uO. 
Nov. den. Seott was placed on the retired 
list with full pay, and McClellan made 
Geneud-iu-ehief 502 



Mason ami SliikU. 

Nov. 7. Capture of the reliel envoys. 
Mason and Slidell, on board the British 
ste.ini. r Tri'nt, in the Bahama channel, 
by Captain Wilkes, of the U. S. steam- 
ship Snii .hiiiiitd- They were brought 
back to ti.e Uiiit.'.l States and confined 
atfoit Wairrii, n, r IListon, but were 
fina ly surn ml. n.l l.i Creat Britain by 
Seeretarv S.nvar.l. n|...n the illegality of 
the act — Oaj)!. Wilkes' failure to bring 



the Trent into port for adjudication by 
the U. S. a\ithorities. 
Nov. 7. Port Royal bombarded and 
taken by (_ien, Sherman and Com. Du 

Nov. 7. S)irinL,dield, ^fo., abandoned to 
th.- .ai.any by order of Gen. McClellan, 
niu.l, t.i IIm' ilisadvantage of the Union 
l'..r..s in Mi-s(Miri 5(i0 

Nov, !i. (I.n. Nelson's victory in East 
Kentucky. 

Nov. y. Gen. Schocpf's flight from E. 
Tennessee. 

Battle of llehnont, Mo. Gen. Crant attacks 
the rebels, .laniauins tli.aii s.ri.iusly. 

Nov. 12. G.ai. Hall. I k !,|i|...iiit..l to the 
c.imniand olth.- .Miss.ni'i 1 1. |i,rtnieut. 

Nov. L'ai.l of I'riee through .Missouri, 
burning villages and ilc^troying rail- 
road tracks, an.l rcgaiinng i.exington 
and other points on the Missis- 
f^ippi 574 

Nov. 10. Missouri passed an ordinance 
of secession. 

Dec, 3. Gen. Phelps lands on Ship Island 
with the advance of Gen. Butler's ex- 
])cdition. 

Dec. 4. John C. Breckenridge expelled 
from the United States Beiiate by a 
unanimous vote. 

Dec. 6. Beaufort taken by Gen. Sher- 
man. 

Dec. 15. Gen. Pope routed the Con- 
federates from Lexington, capturing 
70 sujjply wagons and 300 prison- 
ers ■.' 562 

Dec. 17. St. me fie. t sunk to block up 
the mouth of >av.innah Liver. 

Dec. 17-18. Col. JetfC. Davis captured a 
Confi'derate camp at Millbrd, consist- 
in- of 3 c.ilonels, 17 captains, 1,000 
men, an.l L't'iO stand of arms, with 



slipi 



strength- 
ans under 



■ king tl 



Gen. I'.'i" .l.l.ats the rebels with great 

less at Shawn..' Mound, Mo. 
Dec. 211. G.n. Ord, commander of the 

.'!d Pennsylvania Brigade, was attacked 

by the Confederate forces under Gen. 

Stuart. I'll.' enemy were defeated with 

a less ot 2eO men. The Union loss 

beinu' '.» killed an.l (iO woun.le.l. . . 563 
De.-. 20. Bailie of Drainsville. Gen. 

McCall defeats the rebels. 
Dec. 20. Tybee Island, commanding the 

approach to Savannah, taken. 
Dec. 21. Cliarleston harbor shut by 

sinkini; a stone fleet at its mouth. 
Dec. 27. Vera Cruz occupied by French 

tr.Kips, an.l the city placed under 



Dec. 



!e of Huntcrsville 558 

.■.1 Stall's forces to-day 

iil,ii71, 22,000 sailors, and 

th I.S1I2 guns. 

II. Grant led an expedition 

from Cairo to Belmont, a rebel en- 

canipin.nt nn.ler Gen. Polk. Polk 

1h ini: I-, intnr.-.'.l. (ir.-int ri'trcatcd.. ."lOa 

Union steain.T /■■,//,/,//, loa.led with stores, 

Union forces attack the rebels on Croa- 
tan Sound by land and water, entirely 
routing them. The slaughter was 
immense on t le rebel side, as there was 
n.. .s.ap.', Ii.iui; sinrouiideil by tlie 
l.an.l aii.l naval liirces 561 

Ton, C.>rwin a .[..intclas United States 
Minister to >Uxuo. 



Bi 
" 31. U 

uumlierc.l 

24f, ships 

Dec. Brit,r.-( 



Liberalism Triumphs in Mexico. 
President Juarez removes all special 

privileges from the priesthood, and 

sold the Church property to the people. 
Name of New Granada exchanged for 

United States of Colombia. 
Gatling gnn invented by Richard J. 

Galling, of North Carolina. 

RareVy the Horsc-tamcr. 
Wonderful exploits of Rarey, the great 
horse-tamer. lie tamed the wil.lest 
and most furious horses in a short 
time, rendering them as traetrtble and 
gentle as lambs, without the use of the 
whip. His great success was achieve. 1 
solely by kindness and through his 
powerful magnetic influence. 

Sam. Houston. 
Oct. 8. Death of Sam. Houston, of Tex- 
as, lie was raiseil in Tennessee, and 
gain.'.l a little clncation, when he went 

th.m'three yiars, an.l wis a.l.ijite.l by 
an In.li in chi.f as his son. In 1811 
he returned to his Tannly, and started 
a school for his maintenance and suc- 
ceeded well. In 1813 he enlisted as a 
common soldier in the U. S. army, and 
by his good conduct was promoted to 
an en>igncy; in 1814 he was en- 
gaged under Gen. Jackson in fighting 
the Creek Indians, and was three 
times severely wounded. He succeed- 
ed in gaining the lasting friendship of. 
Jackson, who promoted him, and he 
was employed to make a treaty with 
the Cherokces. The winter following 
he went to Washington with a delega- 
ti.m of Indians. In 1818 he threw u^ 
\\\A commissi. in and settled in Nash- 
ville .an.l began the study of law, and 
was a.lmitted to the bar after six 
mouths' stuily. and one year after was 
elected District Attorney for the David- 
son District. In 1823 he was elected 
Member of Congress, and re-elected in 
1825. In 1827 he was chosen Gov- 
ernor of Tennessee. In Jan., 1829, he was 
married, and in three months sep,arated 
from his wife, when he again went to 
the Cherokee Nation, who received 
him kindly, and admitted him to all 
the rights and privileges of their na- 
tion. He remained with them till 
1832, when he went to Washington to 
defend them against the wrongs in- 
flicted upon them by the Government 
agents. Mr. Houston received the aid 
of Covernment in exposing the frauds 
of the agents — five of whom were re- 
moved. With one of those — Mr. 
Stansbury — he had a personal rencoun- 
ter, and his opponent was severely 
beaten. Mr. Houston was arrested 
and brought before the House and 
publicly censured, tried, and fined 
$500, but the President remitted him 
his fine. Soon after he removed to 
Texas, and was there drawn into a 
Convention, where he was appointed 
upon a committee to draft a form of 
Constitution for the ne-v State. Mr. 
Houston exerted a powerful influence 
in Texas, and at the con.mcncement of 
the Texan war with Mexico he was ap- 
pointed General of a force of troops. 
In 1>*35 he was elected Commander-in- 
chief of the Texan army. Ho defeated 



CHEONOLOGY. 



781 



18G1. the Mexicans at San Jacinto, and took 
tlieir General (Santa Anna) prisoner. 
After tlie war, he was elected President 
of the Republic of Texas, and at the 
close of his term he became a Mem- 
ber of Congress. Leaving the finances 
of Texas in a prosperous condition, 
after his return he was again elected 
her President, and upon her admission 
into the Union he was elected a U. S. 
Senator. He was ever a friend of the 
Indians, and was a bold, straightfor- 
ward defender of what he considered 
to be right. He was strongly opijosed 
to the secession of the South. In 1859 
he was elected Governor of Texas, hut 
retired from ofSce, refusing to take 
the oath required by the State Consti- 
tution. 

Minnesota Massacre. 

18G3 Indian massacre in Minnesota. The 
Sioux, under Little Crow, fell upon the 
white settlements at New Ulm, Yellow 
Medicine, Cedar City, Fort Ridgely, 
and Fort Abercrombie, and butchered, 
in the most cruel and shocking man- 
ner, some 500 persons, chiefly defense- 
less women and children. The citi- 
zens were unprotected, and their only 
escape was by flight. Great conster- 
nation ensued all through the North- 
west, and troops were immediately 
sent to their rescue. The Indians in 
that district were finally subdued, and 
the leaders in the massacre were exe- 
cuted 584 

" Jan. 1. Fort Pickens breaches Fort 
Barancas and burns the navy yard. 

" Death of Lopez, President of Paraguay. 

" Gen. Sam. Kanion chosen President of 
Ecuador. 

" Jan. 8. Battle of Blue Gap, Va. Rebels 
defeated. 

" Hospital boats were established on the 
Western rivers, and cars on the rail- 
road leading from the seat of war. 

" Jan. 10. Johnson and Polk, of Missouri, 
expelled from the U. S. Senate. 

" Jan. 13. Edwin M. Stanton succeeded 
Simon Cameron as Secretary of War. 

" Jan. Col. Garfield attacks the Confed- 
er.-.tes in S. E. Kentucky, and forces 
them to retreat to Virginia 503 

John Tyler. 

^ Jan. 18. John Tyler, tenth President of the 
United States, died in Richmond, Va. 
In 1836 Mr. Tyler identified himself 
with the Whig party, and was, by that 
party, nominated to the Vice-Presi- 
dency on the ticket with Gen. Harri- 
son, and upon the death of the latter, 
he became President of the United 
States. His administration was very 
unpopular, and before its close every 
member of his Cabinet had resigned, 
and he lost the confidence of the Whig 
party by his measures. lie was in the 
Confederate Congress at the time of 
his death. 

" Jan. 19. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas took 
command of the Union forces in Ken- 
tucky, with a force of 8,000 men. . 563 

" Jan. 19. Gen. Thomas was attacked by 
Gen. Geo. B. Crittenden. A desperate 
conflict raged, resulting in the retreat 
of Crittenden's army, with the loss of 
Gen. Zollicoffer and nearly 300 men. 
The rebels escaped through the night. 



leaving 13 guns and equipments, 
1,500 horses, and all their army mate- 
rial 503 

Jan. 30. Ericsson's Monitor launched at 
Greenpoint, L. I. 

Capture of Fori Henry. 

Feb. 2. Com. Foote, with seven gun- 
boats, and Gen. Grant, with 15,000 men 
on steamboats, attacked Fort Henry 
and captured it. 

Feb. 7-8. Battle of Roanoke Island. 
Biirnside takes the island, with 2,500 
prisoners. 

Fort Donclson Siarcndcrcd. 

Feb. 16. Surrender of Fort Donclson to 
Gen. Grant by Gen. Buckner, after 
84 hours of fighting and watching, 
taking 13,000 prisoners, the fort being 
abandoned by General Floyd and Col. 
I'orrest 564 

Feb. 18. First regular Rebel Congress 

assembled at Richmond. 
Feb. 19. C(d. Canby confronted by a 
band of Texas Rangers at Valverde, 
New Mexico. Upon the death of Lieut. 
McCrae and the loss of his battery, the 
Union infantry became demoralized 
and fled precipitately 5ti3 

Feb. 21. Gordon, the slaver, hung at 
New York. 

Feb. 23. Cumberland Gap abandoned 
to the Unionists, and a Confederate 
camp surprised and captured by Gen. 
Garfield 503 

Feb. 23. A general advance toward 
Richmond ordered by President Lin- 
coln 568 

Feb. At Coche, Ky., Gen. Curtis was 
attacked by a band of Texas cavalry, 
under General Albert Rush, which he 
routed after a short engagement, by 
an impetuous charge of 1st Indiana 
Cavalry. Gen. Curtis then marched 
to Helena, taking a large number of 
negroes whom the rebels had em- 
ployed building roads, and which 
were entitled to their freedom .... 562 

Feb. 23. Jeff. Davis inaugurated Presi- 
dent of the Confederate States for six 
years. 

Feb. Retreat of Gen. A. S. Johnston 
from Bowling Green to Nashville be- 
fore Gen. O. M. Mitchel, bringing con- 
sternation to the citizens of Nashville, 
hundreds of whom fled in terror from 
the city. Gen. Johnston continuing 
his flight South, and the Government 
and Legislature, also the bankers, with 
their specie, following. 

Feb. 24. Nashville surrendered to Gen. 
Buell, and Gen. Nelson and his troops 
took possession of the city 564 

Mar. 3. Columbus, Ky., abandoned by 
the rebels at the approach of Com. 
Foote and Gen. Sherman 564 



Battle of Pea Ridge. 

Mar. 7. Battle of Pea Ridge, fought by 
Gens. Curtis, Sigel, Osterhaus, and 
Jeff. C. Davis, lasting three days, and 
resulting in the complete victory of 
the Union forces. The rebel forces 
were 30,000 strong under Gens. Price, 
Van Dorn, McCulloch, Slack, and Mc- 
intosh. The Federal loss was 1,351. 
Rebel loss not ascertained, but must 
have been mueh more. Gens. McCul- 



loch and Mcintosh killed, and Gens. 
Price and Slack wounded 5G3 

Mar. 8. The Oitin'bcrland and Coiif/reas 
destroyed by the rebel ram Mcrrl- 
mac .508 

Mar. 9. The Merrimac disabled and pnt 
to flight by the little Monitor, which 
also disabled the Yorltotrn. 

Mar. 10. Reliels evacnate Manassas Jimc- 
tion, and LTnion forces occupy it. 

Mar. 13. New Madrid evacuated bv the 
Confederates, after a heavv canndnad- 
ing by (ien. Pope, who took immediaic 
possession. The enemy left thiriy-three 
cannon, several thousand siumU arms, 
and a large amount of other war ma- 
terial 5(i4 

Mar. 14. B'lttle of Neinliern, N. C. Gen. 
llurnside defeats the Confedeiates, and 
occupies the city; ca|)turing 6'J can- 
non, two steamboats with large quan- 
tities of munitions, and 5u6 prison- 
ers 568 

Mar. 23. Battle ot Winchester, Va. 
Rebels badly defeated, losing l.OOU, 
besides prisoners. 

Mar. 25. Fort Mason occupied by Union 
forces. 

Mar. Soldiers' Home opened at Cairo 
by the Chicago IJranch Committee. 

April 4. ISeginninp; of Peninsular cam- 
paign. Army of Potmiac advance 
toward Yorktown. 



Battle of S/iiloli, or rittsburg 
Landing. 

April 6-7. Surprise and attack of the 
Union army under (irant, Sherman, 
and Prentice at Pittsburg Lamling ; 
their panic and retreat. Generals 
Buell and Lew Wallace come to the 
rescue, and the tide turned. The 
rebels were driven back to Corintli. 
Gen. Halleck taking command, he 
attacked the enemy at Corinth and 
gained possession of that imjjortiint 
railroad center. 

April. The allied powers against Mexico 
disagree, and the English and Spanish 
commanders of the expedition re- 
turned to Europe and left the French 
alone to settle the difficulty with 
Mexico. 



Island No. 10. 

April 7. Gen. Pope, having cut a canal 
twelve miles long across the Missouri 
peninsula opposite Island No. 10, at- 
tacked the rebel stronghold under 
Gen. McCowu, who sunk the boats 
and transports, and escaped eastward, 
leaving Gen. McCall to surrender the 
Island, with 3 Generals, 273 officers, 
6,700 soldiers, 123 pieces of heavy 
artillery, 7,000 stand small arms, and a 
large quantity of ammunition and other 
stores reported in the capture 564 

April 11. Surprise and capture of 
Huntsville, Ala., together with a large 
number of locomotives and cars, by 
Gen. O. M. Mitchel. At Russelville, 
Gen. Mitchel captured a large amount 
of Confederate property without loss. 

April 11. Fort Pulaski surrendered I y 
the rebels after thirty hours' bombaid- 
ment. 

April 16. Slavery aluUshed in District 
of Columhia. 

April 17. Bombardment of Fort Pillow 



782 



CHEONOLOGY. 



1802. by Commodore Foote, lasting two 
weeks, wiih little efi'cct. owing to the 
liigh water, wliicli prevented the co- 
operation of the land forces 56-1 

Fi.u-mi;iit's Great Feat. 

" April 'U. C'.im. Fiirra-iit ran tlie bat- 
tni.'-(i:i tlic Mississippi liiver at Fort 
.Jac'ksDii. (listKiyiiii,^ th.it fort and Fort 
St. I'nilip, also twelve Confederate 
gun-boats, lie proceeds to New Or- 
leans. 

" April 2+. Surrender of Fort Henry and 
Fort Donelson to C^om. Foote and Gen. 
Grant by Gen. Buckncr. 

" April 35. Fort Macon, N. C, taken after 
eleven hours' fighting. 

Surrender of New Orleans. 

" April. Com. Farragut with his fleet ap- 
proaches New Orleans. The Confeder- 
ates burn their shipping and a vast 
amount of property — 15,000 bales of 
cotton, and ve-sels richly freighted 
with merchandise — estimated at from 
$8,000,000 to $10,000,000. But the 
city ma^e no resistance, and surrender- 
ed to the American fleet. 

" April 29. Gen. Mitchel defeats the rebels 
and captures Bridgi-port, Ala. 

" May 1. Arrival of Geu. Butler in New 
Orleans. lie takes possession of the 
city, marching thrmigh the principal 
s'reitsi, from the Lcecc to the Giistom- 
JI,u:,.-, 'i„ th>' hn„- of •-¥.,!, Ir,- Dnudh:' 



" Way. The French assume the oflensive 
and attack the Mexicans at Chiquihuite, 
but were repulsed with great disaster 
to their f )r.es. 

" May 4. .Mc(_Mrllan enters Yorktown, the 
rrl.rl, ha in- llr,l ill tlir night. 

'■ Ma. 1. I'iulit ImUvi . 11 rrlicl ram jWflZfory 
an I llir fnion nun-'. rat Cineinnnti ; 
1. til ve-srU .i s:il>lr.l and snnk; the 
rrlM-U ivtr atim' u,,.|,i- .■.un- ,,f smoke 
frniii til- lnii-nini,r unn-l.oats which the 
Cinriiiu ,1, r.rc.l lu'fore sinking. 

" May ■■). Ualllc of Williamsburg hetwcen 
(H.n. llii<>l<(i- and Gen. Magruder. 
Kebcls cvacu.ite in the night. 
May 7. Battle of AVest Point, Va. 

Kcbels driven over Chiekahoininy. 
May 8. Skirmish at Bull Pasture Mt. 
between Generals Sclienck and Milroy 
on the Union side, and Johnston and 
Jackson of the Confederates 569 

Surrender of Norfolk. 

" May 10. Norfolk surrendered to Gen. 
Wool, the enemy having evacuated it, 
together with the navy yard and 
Portsmouth, which Gen. Wool also re- 
po.ssesseil. 

" May Ifl. Severe naval fii;ht on the Mis- 
sissippi near Fort Wright. Rebels 
defcatLd 

'• May II The lebels destioved then 
ctkbrited iron-clvd Vhihikc and 
spiked 300 c\nnon befou leaving 
Gen Ilonk.r fought dcspcritely for 

nil! 1 Mil t I it and superior 

t I / 1 1 oops undtt 

V I irhuh were not 

J ' n 5(.9 

" May I beiniLi I'luuler run out of 
Charleston by Robert Smalls, a negro. 

" May 17. Puebla surrendered to the 



French with 15,000 men, including 

1,000 officers. 
May 20. McClellan within eiglit miles 

of Richmond. 
May 22. AtFront Royal, a force of 900 men 

under Col. Kenly was captured by a 

drlai'liinint of rebel cavalry under 



in position, live mili 



Jlay 'S.l Jai-agciaent at Louisburg, W. 
Va., between Col. Crook, United States 
Army, and Gen. Heath. Unionists 
victorious. 

May 25. Gen. Banks defeated at Win- 
chester ; retreats to the Potomac. 

May 30. Halleck's troops occupy Cor- 
inth ; the rebels evacuating 5t)9 

Mav :'.l. McClellan badlv beaten at Fair 
(■)aks l.v Cell. Hill. 

Jlay :;i . .'l uarez rciiiove.l tlie seat of Gov- 
ernment from Mexico to San Luis 
Potosi. 

Union troops enter Little Rock, Ark. 
Rebel Government running oQ". . . . 570 

June 1. Battle of Fair (_)aks renewed 
under Gen. Sedgwick, and the Union- 
ists recover much of their losses. 

Junel. Gen. Mitchel summoned to com- 
mand Poll Hoval, S. Carolina 566 

Freiiioiit .iilvaijciiig up the valley, occu- 
pies Straslmrg. 

June 4. Fort Pillow and Fort Randolph 
evacuated by the rebels 505 

Surrender of Memphis. 

June 6. Surrender of Memphis to Com- 
modore Uavis after a desperate fight on 
the river between the rebels and Union 
gun-boats, the rebel fleet lieing nearly 
annihilated, while not a man was 
killcl on the Union tli^et. 

The liiion -nn-lioat .!/"'//»/ CVfy blown 
up Ijv a nlnl liall, wliicli passed through 
her steam dniiii, at St. Charles, and 
nearly all on hoard perished. 

June 8. Attack on Sprin^'tield, Mo., by 
the rebel Gen. Marmaduke, with 4,000 
men, wlio was gallantly repulsed by 
Gen. Browne, of the Missouri militia, 
with a little band of 1,200 men. . . 583 

June S. Battle of r'roi<!<l-ei/><, Va. Union 
forces vnJer Fremont, 'rebels led by 
Ewell. Desperate fighting, and retreat 
of the rebels duriug'the night ... 569 

June 9. Shields, with 3,000 men, re- 
pulsed at Fort Republic by Jackson, 
with a force of 8,000 570 

June 10. Gen. Forey, with the French 
troops, entered Mexico, and published 
a manifesto to the people and silenced 
the Press. 

June 14. Union troops repulsed, with 
much loss, on James' Island, near 
C'harleston. 

June 16. Gen. H. S. Wright advanced 
with 6,000 men and attacked Seces- 
sionville, commanded by Col. Lamar, 
but were repulsed with a loss of over 

584 

Suncnilrr of the powerful 
M/, 11,1.1 to (apt. John Rogers, 
iJiairkiii, ofUrio minutes^ en- 



5O0. 



of the II 
gaijemen 

June 19. Slavery abolished by act of 
Contcress in all the Territories. 

June 23. The rebel General Dick Taylor 
captured Brashear City, the Unionists 
losing 1,000 prisimeis, 10 heavy guns, 
and $3,')0'),000, and many thousand 



negroes, liberated by Banks, were 

forced back into slavery 579 

June 24. McClellan begins to ^•change 
his iase " to James River. 

Pope in Command. 

June 26. Gen. Pope placed in command 
over the army of Virginia, 50,000 
strong. 

June 36. Biittle of Mcchanicwille hctween 
Fitz John Porter and Jackson. Heavy 
losses on both sides, the enemy re- 
treating 570 

June 27. Battle of Gaines Milk. Gen. 
Porter engaged with 85,000 against 
Gen. Lee's forces of 60,000. under Gen. 
Jackson. McClellan holding at the 
same time 60,000 troops on the other 
side of Chickahominy, idly watching 
the rebels, who were stationed near 
with but 25,000 men. The Union 
forces were compelled to retreat from 
overwhelming odds, after a desperate 
and long-continued struggle. ... 570 

June 27. Hooker occupied Frederic City. 

June 27. Meiale /ihiced in command of the 
Arm;/ of the Potomac. 

June 28. llooler mpjerseded hy Meade. 

June 28. Rebel General Early invaded 
York, Pa., and levied a large sum of 
money upon that place. 

June 39, Meade advanced to South 
Mountain. 

June 39. Longsfreet and Hill march 
toward Gettysburg and order Ewell to 
meet them tliere. 

June 29. Battles of Sarage Station and 
Peach Orchard. 

June 30. Bottles of Wteite Oak Swamp 
a7id Charles City Cross-roads, Jeff. 
Davis and Lee attending in person. 
Union-forces led by McCall, Franklin, 
and Slocum, reinforced by Hooker late 
in the day. 

June 30. Battle npcm the James River, 
with Conrnodore Porter's fleet and 
Ileintzehnan upon the field. McCall 
capturcil, and the Union forces retreat 
to Malvern Hill on James River.. . 571 

July 1. President Lincoln calls for 600,- 
000 volunteers. 

July 1. Attack of the rebels on Malvern 
Hill ; their repulse and the decided 
victory of the Union forces 571 

July 2. Evacuation of Malvern Hill — 
where the army was stron;j;ly posted — 
by order of Gen. McClellan. 

The Union losses during the seven 
days' battles amounted to 15,249. 

July 5. Murfreesboro, Tenn., captured by 
the guerrilla chieftain, Forrest. 

July 7. Battle of Bayou de Cache, 
Arkansas. Gen. Curtis severely defeats 
Pike. 

July 7. Raid of Morgan on Cynthiana, 
Ky., and bis repulse by Green Clay 
Smith. 

July 8. Surrender of Port Hudson by 
Gen. Gardner to Gen. Banks 578 

July 8. Gen. Lee withdrew his forces to 
Richmond. 

I/a/leek General-in-Chief 

July 11. Gen. Halleck appointed Com- 
mander-in-chief of the Union army at 
Washington. Gen. Grant succeeding 
him at Corinth 5ii.) 

July 13. Murfreesboro, Tenn., taken bv 
rebels, capturing the gairisou wish 
Gen. Crittenden. 



CHEONOLOCxY. 



783 



1862. July 14. Gen. Pope takes comniand of the 

Army of Virginia, and issued address. 
" July 15. ^Battle of Fayetteville, Arli. 

Major Miller tlioroughly beating Geus . 

Rain3, Coffee, and otliers. 
" July 32. Vicksburg canal completed and 

fouud useless. Siege postponed. 

Martin Van Buicti. 
" July 24. Death of Martin Van Iiuren, 
the eighth President of the United 
States. Sir. Van Buren was burn in 
the town of Kinderhook, on the Hudson 
River, in the State of New York, and 
was of Dutch parentage. He was a 
very precocious boy, beginning the 
study of law at the age of fourteen. 
He remained in the law-office seven 
\ears, when he was admitted to the 
Bar. 

Mr. Van Buren early became an 
active politician, and sided with the 
Jeffersonian party, and was a consist- 
ent advocate of tlie principles which he 
avowed. 

In 1813, when 30 years of age, he 
was chosen to the State Senate, antl 
gave his support to Mr. Madison's Ad- 
ministration. In 1818 he was appoint- 
ed Attorney-General. 

Mr. Van Buren was a strenuous op- 
poser of " Universal Suffrage," and, 
contended that suffrage should he pro- 
tected hy intelligence, virtue, and some 
2iropertp-interest in the welfare of the 
State. In 1821 he was elected to the 
United States Senate, and also as a 
member of a convention to revise the 
Constitution of his native Stale, in 
which his cuurse secured the approval 
of all parties. In 1837 he was re-elect- 
ed to the Senate. In 1828 Mr. Van 
Buren was chosen Governor of the State 
of New York. In politics Mr. Van 
Buren was justly termed a "wire- 
puller," for his schemes were always 
conducted privately, and he often out- 
witted the clearest heads, and brought 
about results which were thought to be 
impossible by party leaders. 

In the Presidential campaign wliich 
ran the names of Adams and Jackson 
as candidates, Mr. Van Buren was the 
chief agency through which Gen. Jack- 
son was elected, i'resident Jackson 
appreciating his services, tendered him 
the otBce of Secretary of State, which 
was accepted. 

President Jackson was a stanch 
friend of Mr. Van Buren, and urged 
his nomination as his successor. He 
appointed him Minister to the Court of 
St. James, but the Senate refused to 
ratify the nomination. He was shortly 
after elected as Vice-President at the 
re-election of Jackson, and succeeded 
hira in the Presidential chair, which 
he filled but one term. Mr. Van 
Buren, as a citizen, was respected and 
beloved for his many virtues. Great 
powers of self-control, blended with 
the most genial and happy of tempers. 
made him a favorite in the social 
circle and in private life. Martin Van 
Buren died, at the age of eighty years. 
Id his elegant home at Lindenwald, on 
the Hudson. 
" Aug. Maj. Foster, with a force of 800 
men, at Lone Jack, was defeated by 
Cohmels Hughes and Cotl'er with a 
force of nearly 2,000 foot soldiers and 



1863. cavalry, and Gen. Blunt in turn drove 
Coffer across the Arkansas line. 
" Aug. 3. Gen. Pope's advance crosses the 
Rapidan and occupies Orange Court- 
house 571 

" Aug. 3. Gen. Ilalleck orders Gen. 
McClellan to retire from, the Peninsula 
with all his forces 571 

" Rebel Gen. Jelf. Thompson defeated with 
great loss near Memphis. 

'' Au;,' 4. Draft of 300,000 men ordered, 
unless volunteering should prevent. 

" Auir. 5. Unsuccessful attack on Baton 
Rouge by the Confederates under Maj.- 
Gen. John C. Breckenridge, with a 
loss of 400 men and one of their G 
erals (Clarke) 5K7 

" Aug. 6. Rebel ram Arl-ansas destroyed 
near Vicksburg by Com. Porter. 

" Aug. 0. At Kirkville, Mo., Col. John 
McNeil, with a force of 1,000 cavalry 
and guns, att.acked a band of Mis- 
souri partisans, numbering tsvice his 
own, under Col. Porter, and after four 
hours' severe fighting, defeated them, 
killing 180, wounding 500, and taking 
a large quantity of arms 502 

" Aug. 8. Battle in New Mexico. Gen. 
Canby routing rebels under Gen. 
Sibley, who was killed by his own 
men. 

" Aug. 9. Battle of Cedar Mountain. 
Banks defeated by Jackson. Rebel 
Gen. Winder killed and Union Gen. 
Prince taken prisoner. 

" Aug. 11. Gen. Buell surrendered the 
garrison at Independence, consstirg 
of 312 men, to a rebel band of 800 
under Col. Hughes 503 

" Aug. 16. Cavalry raid of Col. J. J. 
Phillips into Mississippi as far as 
Granada, destroying fifty locomotives 
and five hundred cars. 

'' Aug. 24. Gen. Bragg's army invades 
Middle Tennessee and Kentucky, and 
retreat of Unicm Gen. Geo. W. Morgan 
to the Ohio River. 

" Aug. 26. Skirmish at Lewisburg be- 
tween Union Gen. W. W. Averill and 
Col. Geo. S. Patton 581 

" Aug. 28. Union victory at Centreville 
under comniand of Pope, aided by 
Kearney and Sigel, and reinforced by 
Hooker and Reno late in the day. 
Longstreet commanding the rebel 
forces 572 

" Aug. 29-30. Pope defeated near Bull 
Run and Centreville 572 

" Aug. 39. Defeat of the Union force 
under Gen. Nelson at Richmond, Ky., 
by Gen. Kiiby Smith. 

Surrender of Memphis. 

" Surrender of Memphis to Com. Foote, 
giving the Union army the control of 
the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. 

Race between Bragg and Buell. 

" Gen. Bragg's raid into Kentucky, and 
race of 300 miles between Bragg and 
Gen. Buell, with their respective 
armies, to gain Louisville. Bragg 
being detained by a burning bridge, 
Buell reached Louisville in advance of 
him. 

" Buell attacks Bragg, and a desperate 
ba'tle was foughtat Perryville. Bragg 
retreats by night, taking an immense 
quantity of plunder. 

" Sept. The Union forces suffer several de- 



feats and quite severe losses from ill- 
ndvised expeditions in Southern Louis- 
iana 579 

Sept. 1. Battle of Chantilly, Va. Union 
army victoiious, with the loss of Gen. 
Phil. Kearney and the brave Gen. 
Isaac J. Stevens 572 

Sejit. 3. Gen. Pope sent to the Northwest 
to conduct a campaign against the 
Sioux Indians 573 

Beau Hickman. 

Sept. 3. Death of Robt. S. Hickman 
(known in Washington for many years 
as "Beau Hickman"). He was the 
most successful " dead beat" that ever 
humbugged the Capital, and was 
noted for the elegance of his dress and 
manners. He lived an aimless and 
useless life, and died in the most abject 
poverty. 

Sept. 3. Attack on the i-ebels under Col. 
i'oindexter at Chariton River by Col. 
Guitar, who drove them north, where 
they were met by Gen. Loan and 
again attacked by Gen. Guitar, who 
utteily annihilated the command. 

Sept. .S. Gen. McClellan takes command 
of Pope's division. 

Sept. 4. Lee's army cross the Potomac 
at Poolesvillc, Md. 

General Porter was, in like manner, 
driven back upon Gen. McNeil by Gen. 
Loan, and compelled to disperse his 
command to save it from destruction. 
These skirmishes drove the enemy 
entirely south of the Missouri River, 
where they remained during the 
war 563 

Sept. 1 0. Death of Lopez, Dictator of 
Uruguay. Succeeded by his son, 
known as Marshal Lopez. 

Sept. 11. Battle of South Mountain, con- 
ducted by McClellan, Gen. Hdl aiding 
the rebel iforces. Union arms victorious. 
Maj.-Gen. Jesse L. Reno killed. . . . 573 

Sept. 15. Surrender of Harper's Ferry to 
the rebels by Gen. Miles 573 

Battle of Antietam. 

Sept. 16-17. Battle of Antietam, between 
Gen. McClellan and Gen. Lee. Nearly 
100,000 men engaged on each side. 
Battle raged for fourteen hours, extend- 
ing four miles along the line. Gen. 
McClellan was aided by Burnside, 
Hooker, Mansfield, Sumner, and Frank- 
lin ; Gen. Lee by Hood, Hill, Walker, 
and McLaw. The Union arms were 
victorious. Lee retreated across the 
Potomac, leaving behind 40 of their 
colors and 25,0u0 men either dead or 
taken prisoners. 

Sept. 19. Gen. GrifBn crossed the river 
by night and carried eight rebel bat- 
teries on Virginia Bluffs. 

Sept. 19, Battle at luka. Rosecranz 
wins, against superior forces under 
Gen. Price, who retreats in the night 
with the loss of 1,438 men 574 

Se|)t. 20. Gen. Porter was ambushed hy 
Gen. Hill and driven back to the river 
with great slaughter. 

Sept. 23. Re-occupation of Harper's 
Ferry by Union forces under Gen. 
Sumner. 

Emancipation Proclatnation Issued. 

Sept. 23. President Lincoln issues a 
jiroclaniation abolishing slavery in all 



784 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1802. the States tliat should be in tlie rebel- 
lion on the 1st of January, 1863. 

" Gen. Schofield, in command of Missouri, 
was superseded by Gen. Curtis. Gen. 
Scbofield, -with 10,000 men, drove the 
Confederates from Southwestern Mis- 
souri 568 

" 8e]it.'J4. PiiiclaniatidU of suspension of 
irrit ,tf' /i,:l„,i^ i-nr/uis iii miUtiinj cases. 

" Ort. 1 he .Mcxirans ))r(:pare to resume 
hostilities, (itu. liazaine appointed 
Commander-in-chief of the French 
forces — Gen. Forey having repaired to 
Me.xico. 

" Oct. The French forces in Mexico are 
reinforced by an army of 35,000 under 
Gen. Forey, who marched upon Pu- 
clila, and were repulsed by heavy loss 
liy .luarez. 

'' Oct. 3^1. Battle at CoHnth.. Desperate 
fighting between Rosecranz and Price. 
A "Bunker Hill" encounter — the reb- 
els throwing away their arms, and flee- 
ing in wild disorder. The Union 
forces ensiaged numbered 15,700, and 
the Conf.'^lrrati- :;s(iii() 575 

" Oct. 8-9. llatllr at INiryville, Ky.. be- 
tween JkCi'.ik's .li vision of Buell's 
army and Ucn. Br.igg. Surprise and 
desperate charge by the enemy, then 
their defeat and precipitate retre.at, 
through a timely and rapid charge by 
Phil. Sheridan 574 

" Oct. 10-12. Stuart's rebel cavalry raid 
into Pennsylvania; they seize and rob 
Chambersburg. 

" Oct. Buell superseded by Maj.-Gen. 
Rosecranz 574 

" Oct. 22. Gen. Blunt routs the rebels at 
Maysville, Ark. 

" Gen. JVIcClellan, after repeated orders, ad- 
vances into Virginia. 

" Nov. 8. Gen. Burnside assumed com- 
mand of the army of the Potomac, and 
began a rapid march toward Freder- 
icksburg. Gen. jMcClellan relieved. 

Burnside' s Expeiiition. 

" Gen. Burnside, with 11,000 troops, and 
flag-officer Goldsborough in command 
of the fleet, conduct an expedition 
against Roanoke. They destroy the 
rebel fleet and capture the forts, and 
gain command of the whole coast of 
North Carolina. 

" Nov. 28. Gen. Blunt defeats the rebel 
Gen. Mavmaduke at Cave Hill, Ark., 
with heavy loss. 

" Dec. Battle at Prairie Grove between 
Gen. Blunt, aided by Gen. Heron, and 
Confederate Gen. Hindman, resulting 
in victory to the Union arms; Gen. 
Stein, aide to General Hindman, was 
killed 563 

Battle of Fredericksburg. 

" Dec. 13. Battle of Fredericksburg; 
100,000 men engaged on the Uni(m 
side, and 80,000 on the rebel. The 
Union army led by Burnside, Confed- 
erates by Gen. Lee. The rebels were 
thoroughly posted on the terraced 
heights above the city, and well sup- 
ported, and the fighting on both sides 
was valiant and desjierate. The Union 
army nearly destroyed the city, but 
failed to gain any advantage, and, at 
the earnest solicitation of his offi- 
cers, Burnside withdrew from action, 
and at the close of the 15th removed 



his forces across the river. The Union 
loss during this bloody day summed 
up 13,771, including killed, wounded, 
and missing. The rebel loss 5,000. 

Banks Supersedes Butler 

Dec. 14. Gen. N. P. Banks superseded 
Gen. Butler at New Orleans; Butler 
having gained 4,000 soldiers, including 
three regiments and two batteries of 
negroes. He collected .$1,088,000 by 
taxation and confiscation, after feed- 
ing the poor of the city to the extent 
of $525,000, which sum he turned 
over to the U. S. Treasury. His rignr- 
ons adminUtration of law and justice 
caused a remird ^/$io.OOO to le offered 
f,,r hlx linili/ d,,id ,,r iilire. by a leading 
VelHt ,,fcliail.-l..n, S. C 507 

Fir:<t i,.in ,.f i:r.,uh.,.-l.s. 

Dec. iiO. Col. iMurpliy surrendered Holly 
Springs, witli 2,ii0ij men, including a 
large hospital filled with sick and 
wounded, and $4,000,000 woith of 
property to Gen. Van Dorn, under com- 
mand of Sherman. 

Dec. 23. Jiff. Davis ismes a proclama- 
tion niitlinriiig (ren. Butler. 

Dec. ','r,. ((iin. i'-.rttr's j;un-boats opened 

Dec. 'JT-'.!^. Sherman attacked Vicks- 
burg by land, and carried two" lines of 
rifle-pits, but finding the city irapreg- ] 
nable, he retired with a loss of 1,734 

Dec. Sherman suj)erseded hj McCler- 
nand. 

Battle of Murfrceslwro. 

Dec. 21 to Jan. 3. Rosecranz defeats Bragg 
after successive and exhausting com- 
bats atraiiist supirior numbers. The 
Union'foncs ainoumr,! to about 40,- 
000, f.nd thr C.iiil.aerate 60,000. 
Union loss 1,5:J3 killed, 7,243 wound- 
ed, 2,800 missing. The killed and 
wounded of the enemy amounted to 
14,560. 

Dec. 31. Monitor founders at sea off 
Cape Ilatteras. 

Emancipation Proclaimed. 

Jan. 1. Great Emancipation Proclama- 
tion announced to be in force. It was 
long contemplated, but as a "war 
measure" was delayed until a pro- 
pitious moment, when it was an- 
nounced, and enthusiastically received 
at the North. By this act more than 
3,000,000 slaves were made free. 

Jan. 1. Gen. Magruder attacked the 
Massachusetts troops at Galveston, 
Texas, retaking the place. In co-oper- 
ation with Magruder, three rebel rams 
attacked the Union fleet, blockading 
the bay, and capturing the Harritt 
Lane, and forced the commander of the 
Weatjield, Renshaw, to blow her up, in 
which act he lost his life 578 

Lyman Beccher. 

Jan. 10. Lyman Beecher, D.D., died in 
Brooklyn," N. Y., at the age of 87 years. 
He was an American clergyman, and 
author of great eminence, and father of 
Henry Ward Beecher and Mrs. H. B. 
Stowe. Mr. Beeclier enjoyed a large 
popularity as an elo<iuent and able 



minister of the Gospel, and an unblem- 
ished reputation. In 1832 he was 
called to the presidency of the Lane 
Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, which post he maintained until 
his death. 

Jan. 11. Gen. Banks attacks the enemy 
at Carney's Bridge, defeating them and 
destroying the gun-boat Cotton... 578 

Jan. 11. Arkansas Post surrendered to 
Gen. McClernand. 

Jan. 12. The gun-boat Hatteras sunk by 
the rebel privateer Alabama at Galves- 
ton 578 

Jan. 21. Two rebel gun-boats Ciiptured 
at the mouth of the Sabine 578 

Jan. 27. Bombardment of Fort JlcAllis- 
tcr, on the Ogeechee, by tha Monitor. 
No results. 

Jan. 28. Gen. Hooker succeeded Burn- 
side over the Army of the Potomac. 

Feb. Soldiers' Home established in 
Liiuisville by the Kentucky Branch 
Commission. 

Fell. •!'<. Act. to provide a national cur- 
rency becomes a law. 

Feb. 2S. Rebel steamer Nashrille de- 
str(iye<l by tlie Moatauk oa the Ogee- 
chee River. 

March. Soldiers' Home established in 
Cairo by the Chicago Branch Commis- 
sion. 

March. Col. A. D. Streight was captured 
by Gen. Forrest, after a running fight of 
nearly InO miles. Ho was sent to 
Libby Prison with his men, numbering 
1,365. 

March 8. Twenty-three rebel steamers 
captured up the Yazoo River. 

March 9. Gen. Custer succeeded by Gen. 
Schotield in command of the Depart- 
ment of Missouri 584 

Miireli 14, Sivere bombardment of Port 
llii'lsdu, ami attempt by fleet to pass 
rrbri Latteries. 

Mareh :.'0. ( ol. A. S. Hall defeated Gen. 
Morgan, at Milton, against forces vastly 
superior to his own 57f 

March 20. Small-pox, in a very malig- 
nant form, broke out in the Frencli 
camp at Vera Cruz, and reinforcements 
were called for. 

March 20. The French attack Puebla, 
and begin the bombardment of the 
place. 

March 25. Rebel fort destroyed opposite 
the Union center, by spr nging a mine, 
and after a bloody encounter the Union 
forces took possession 518 

March 30. At Sonier.set, Ky., Gen. Gil- 
more, with a force of 1,200, routed the 
rebel Gen. Pegram, with two thousand 
five hundred men 583 

April 1. Farragut runs batteries at 
Grand Gulf and ravages Red River 
country. 

April. The French occupy one-half of 
the city of Puebla. 

April 7. Unsuccessful attempt by Com. 
Dupont to take Fort Sumter, with 
serious slaughter to his fleet. 

April 10. Van Dorn repulsed at Frank- 
lin by Gordon Granger 570 

April 16. Com. Porter successfully ran 
the latteries at Vicksburg with his fleet 
of gun-boats, losing but one boat, the 
Tigress, and a part of the barges. . . 577 

April 27. Chancellorsville campaign 
begins. 

April 29. Com. Porter attacked the rebel 
batteries of Grand Gulf, but Gen. 
Grant decitling to discontinue the as- 



h 1 



CHRONOLOGY. 



785 



sault, Porter ran their batteries without 

injury to his fleet 577 

May 1. Attaclc on Fort Giljsou by Mc- 
Clernand, which, with Grand Gulf, were 
Boon evacuated by the rebels 577 

Battle of ChanceUorsvillc. 

May 2-5. Battle of ChancellorsTille under 
Ilooker and Lee. Union forces en- 
gaged, 70,000 ; rebel forces, 50,000. lie- 
suits undecided, but losses were very 
heavy on both sides. The rebel Gen. 
Stoucwall Jackson mortally wounded, 
and Gen. Hooker stunned and insen- 
sible for a time, from a cannon-ball 
striking a pillar against which he was 
leaning. 

May 2. Col. Grierson's force roaches 
Baton Rouge safe after fifteen days' 
ride through Mississippi. 

Vala/idigham' s Arrest. 

May 4. Arrest of Valandigham for 
publicly expressing sympathy with the 
South, and for treasonable language 
against the military aud civil adminis- 
tration. 

May 10. Death of Stonewall Jocksnn. 

May 15. Battle of Edwards Station. 
Enemy defeatel by Grant, and pursued 
to Ulack River 577 

May 15. Battle of .Jackson, Miss. Logan 
and Crocker defeating the rebels and 
taking their place. 

May 16. Battle of Baker's Creek. Grant 
completely routes Pemberton, who 
loses 4,000 men and 39 guns. 

May 17. Battle of Black River Bridge. 
liefeat and retreat of Pemberton to 
Vicksburg. Grant captures 18 guns 
and 1,500 prisoners. 

Siege of Vicksburg Began. 

May 18. Gen. Grant closes in on Vicks- 
burg and begins the siege 577 

May 111. Haines' Bluff evacuated by the 
enemy 578 

May 25. Admiral Porter had destroyed 
$10,000,000 worth of property up the 
Yazoo. 

June. A cavalry force under Col. Saun- 
ders entered East Tennessee, and caj)- 
tured 500 prisoners, burning several 
important bridges, and destroying 
a large quantity of rebel stores. . . . 583 

June. Gen. Rosecranz captured Shelby- 
ville and Tullahoma en route for Chat- 
tanooga 583 

Surreniier of Fort Hindman. 
June 11. Fort Hindman, or Arkansas 
Post, surrendered to Gen. McClernand 
with 17 cannon, 3,000 stand of arms, 
seven stand of colors, 5,000 prisoners, 
and large quantities of munitions. Gen. 
McClernand destroyed the works, and 
returned to Miliken's Bend 577 

Rebel Scare. 

Tho rebels captured the Union rams 
(^ueoi of the Wed and India/tola. I)ut 
blew up the latter on the approach of 
a counterfeit ram — made out of a flat- 
boat, with pork-barrels for smoke- 
stacks, and mud-furnaces — sent down 
the river by Com. Porter 577 

Rebels under Lee moving North — Hook- 
er starts to meet them. 



1803. Henry Ward BeecJier msits England, and 
successfully niCLts the oijpositlon to 
our (loverument amid vast aud tumult- 
uous molls, sil<n(iug them, and win- 
ning applause instead of hisses. 

" June 14. Attack on the Union forces 
under Gen. Mihoy at Winchester by the 
rebel Gens. Ewell and Longstiect, with 
a large force. Milroy having but a few 
regiments, maintained his ground un- 
til the afternoon of the 15th, when he 
retreated toward Martinsburg. Four 
miles out. he was again attacked by 
another division, and his force routed 
and dispersed. Hundreds of his fugi- 
tive soldiers were taken prisoners, and 
the loss of artillery and wagons was 
extensive. 

" June 15. The whole rebel army enters 
Pennsylvania, and march North to 
within 13 miles of Hiirrisburg. Great 
excitement prevails in the Northern 
States. President Lincoln calls on the 
nearest Stat's for militia, and was 
promptly r. .,,0,,, l.d t... 

" June 17. Re!" 1 iMiii .I//./;,?*/ captured by 
the Wechnr!,,,. in \r, minutes. 

" June 36. Andrew Hull Foote died in 
New York. He was an American 
Rear-Admiral, who served in the civil 
war with great dis^tinction. 

" June 28. Gen. Meade supersedes Hooker. 
Lee's forces within four miles of Har- 
rislnirg. 

" July 1. Judge Cooley, of the New Or- 
leans Bar, vas shot in a duel by Col. R. 
B. Khett, a political opponent. 

Morgan's Raid. 
" July 3. Morgan began his r.aid through 
the border States, capturing prisoners 
and destroying property, and commit- 
ting the meanest acts of depredation 
anil^ hostility; robbing the mail, and 
plundering private citizens. He was 
captured, with over 2,000 guerrillas, 
near New Lisbon, O., by Col. Shackle- 
ford, and, with several of his officers, 
confined in the Penitentiary at Colum- 
bus, from which he escaped in Novem- 
ber, and reached Pvichmond. Va., and 
again entered the rebel service, and 
was killed the following year 581 

Battle of Gettysburg. 
" July 1-4. The battle of Gettysburg, be- 
tween Gens. Meade and Lee, was one 
of the most bloody and hard-fought 
battles of the war. The armies were 
each about 80,000 strong. They fought 
desperately for three days, but finally 
victory crowned the Union arms. To- 
tal Union loss was 23,186. Meade cap- 
tured 41 flags and 13,621 prisoners. 
Lee made no reijort, but his supposed 
loss was 18,000 killed and wounded, 
and 10,000 un wounded prisoners. . 580 



Surrender of Vicksburg. 
July 4. Surrender of Vicksburg. Tlie 
(Gibraltar of the Jlississippi, with 
31,000 men, surrendered to Gen. Grant. 
The campaign had been car.ied on 
with great vigor for several months. 
The inhabitants had been obliged to 
burrow in caves and holes dug out of 
the ground to protect themselves from 
the fiery storm of shot and shell which 
continually poured upon them. Desti- 
tute of ranuiunition and necessary 



provisions, the rebels at last capitu- 
lated. To Gen. McPhcrson was granted 
the honor of formally receiving tho 
surrender. 
July 8. Surrender of Port Hudson, with 
7,000 men, to Gen. Banks, and the 
Mississippi is thus opened. 

Maximilian declared Emperor of 
Mexico. 

July 10. The Provisional French Gov- 
ernment, set up in Mexico by the name 
of Assembly of Notables, numbering 
215 persons, assembled and declared 
for an imperial form of Government, 
and Archduke Maximilian of Austria 
was proclaimed Emperor. 

July 10. Gen. Gilmore begins his at- 
tack on Forts Wagner and Gregg, 
Charleston. 

July 13. Lee recrosscs the Potomac into 
Virginia. 

Riot in New Vork. 

July 13-15. Great anti-draft riot in New 
York. The mob destroyed the Draft- 
oflice, burned the buildings and the 
whole block, preventing the fire depart- 
ment from doing their duty. March- 
ing through the city, they took pos- 
session of, and destroyed every build- 
ing which the Government officers 
occupied, ga'ning entire control of the 
city, and holding it for four days. 
Negroes were indiscriminately beaten 
and murdered in the most inhuman 
manner. $2,500,000 damages were 
claimed, and the number of lives lost 
was variously estimated from 500 to 
1,000. The mob was finally quelled, 
partly by the militia, partly by tho 
efforts of Gov. Seymour, and partly 
by Archbishop Hughes, but chiefly by 
the suppression of the draft and the 
bounty which was offered in its stead. 

July 15. Riot in Boston, which was soon 
suppressed, and one rioter killed and 
several wounded. 

Aug. 16. Rosecranz begins his march 
upon Chattanooga. 

Quant rell's Raid in Kansas. 

Aug. 21. Quantrell's raid upon Lawrence, 
Kan. A band of 300 rebel guerrillas, 
headed liy Quantrell, a desperado, en- 
tered the quiet town of Lawrence early 
in the morning, and surprised the sleep- 
ing inhabitants, burning 185 buildings, 
and murdering in cold blood 140 men 
(many of them in their beds), robbing 
stores, banks, and private dwellings 
promiscuously. They then fled like so 
many wild savages of the forest from 
the avenging hand of Justice. The 
inhabitants pursued and killed 100 of 
their number. 

Aug. 23. Shells thrown by the Union 
fleet into Charleston, nearly six miles. 
Beauregard protests. 

Sept. 3. Gen. Burnside occupies Knox- 
ville, Tenn. The loyal people of East 
Tennessee receive him with expressions 
of intense joy at their deliverance. 

Sept. 6. The rebels evacuate Forts Wag- 
ner and Gregg and Gilmore occupies 
them. 

Sept. 9. Surrender of Cumberland Gap 
to Burnside, with 2,000 men 583 



CHRONOLOGY. 



General MeCook. 

1863. Sept. 11. Death of Gen. Edward Stan- 
ton McCook. He w.as Territorial Sec- 
retary, at one time, and Acting Gov- 
ernor of Dakota. He was assassinated 
at Yankton, by W. P. Wintermute, a 
banker of Yankton, who aspired to his 
position. Gen. McCook was the fifth 
son of Gen. Daniel McCook, of New 
Lisbon, Ohio, who, with his eight 
sous, took active part in the late wai- ; 
the father and three sons sealing their 
patriotism with thoir blood. 

Battle of Chiekamaiiga. 

" Sept. 19-20. Battle of Chicamauga 
fought by Rosecrauz and Gen. Bragg. 
Union army defeated the second day, 
and withdrew to Chattanooga, except 
Gen. Thomns, who stood his ground, 
with a few divisions, for several hours, 
against the whole rebel army of 70,000 
men, till night closed the bloody scene. 
The total Union loss was 10,351, and 
Gen. Bragg reported a loss of 18,- 
000 583 

William Wheelwright. 

" Sept. 2G. William Wheelwright, a phi- 
lanthropist, died in London, Ergland, 
at seventy-eight years of age. He was a 
citizen of Newburyport, Mass., long 
engaged in engineering in South 
America. He Jiuilt the first railway, first 
gnu-irnrt-f:. fir.-f irafcr-irvrls, and the first 
■iron i.irr. i r, r .si<iWshed ill South Amcr- 
I,;,. \h: ^^■A< tlir founder of the Pacific 
Mail Co., and gave to benevolent pur- 
poses, during his life, more than ^600,- 
000, and at his death, left nearly $1,- 
000,000 to found a scientific school in 
Newburyport, Mass. 

Sherman's March. 

" Oct. Gen. Sherman, with his whole 
array, moved from Vicksburg south 
into Alabama, repairing the railroad 
and subsisting on the invaded 
country 583 

Wheelers Raid. 

" Oct. 3. A large cavalry force, under 
cbel Gcu. Wheelor, crossed the Ten- 
nessee and burned a train of eight 
hundred wagons — destined for Thomas 
at Chattanooga— at Anderson's Cross 
Roads, a large quantity of .supplies at 
McMinnville and Warren. He was re- 
pulsed at Murfrecsboro and Farming- 
ton, and recrossed the Tennessee, hav- 
ing destroyed a million dollars worth 
of Government property, but with a 
loss of 2,000 men 583 

" Oct. 17. President Lincoln calls for 300,- 
000 more men. 

" Oct. 18. Oen. Grant assumed command 
of the DepaHment of the Ohio. Cum- 
berland and Tennessee armies soon 
after arrived in Chattanooga 583 

" Oct. 20. Gen. Thomas succeeds Rose- 
crauz in his command. 

•' Oct. 27. Gen. Hooker encamped in 
Lookout Valley. 

" Oct 28. Hooker's forces take Lookout 
Mountain 583 

" First Sanitary Fair, for the relief of 



soldiers, held in Chicago, the uet pro- 
ceeds of which were $73,000. 

First Fenian Congress held in the United 
States. 

Nov. 6. Gen. Avcrill routed a rebel 
force, under Gen. Echols, at Dioop 
Mountain 581 

Nov. 0. Col. Shackleford attacked at 
Kogersvillc by Gen. \V. E. Jones, and 
750 men captured. 

Nov. 7. Gen. Meade crosses the Rappa- 
hannock southwar.l. Lee retiring. 

Col. Woolford, witli 3,000 men. att^acked 
by 7,000 of Lonaxfn ,1^ nn n. md after 
fighting several houi%. Wc^^ilord cut 
his way out, leavinu' his l.aiti ly and 33 
wagons, but saving the most of his 
command 583 

Nov. 17. Longstreet begins the siege of 
Knoxyille, occupied by Burnside. 

JSattle of Chattanooga. 

Nov. 24. Battle of C!iaftano<iga, extend- 
ing from Lookout Mountain, on the 
left, to Missionary Riilge, on the right. 
Hooker sweeps up the sides of Lookout 
Mountain and reaches the summit 
under a thick fog, driving the enemy 
down the precipitous eastern sides of 
the mountain, while Sherman at'acks 
the enemy's riglit at .Missionary Ridge, 
andGeu.Tliomas, with 3.5, 000, attacked 
the center before Chattanooga. The 
battle raged along the whole line, and 
at midnight the enemy was in full re- 
treat, leaving their strong positions 
with 6.0O0 si.l.lii rs, 40 pieces of artil- 
lery, an.l 7,<»nn ,.t ui<l of small arms in 
the hands of llir rnimiists. The Union 
losses auiounlcd to 5,010; the rebel 
loss not reported 583 

Nov. 38. Morgan, and six of his officers, 
dig out of Ohio State Prison. 

Nov. 28. Longstreet repulsed, with a 
loss of 800 583 

Nov. 29. Rebels repulsed, with great 
slaughter, in their attack on Knoxville. 

Banks' Expedition to Texas. 

Gen. Banks' expedition into Texas. He 
captures the rebel forts Esperanza, 
Brazos Island, Point Cabel, and Browns- 
ville, and driving out the enemy west 
of the Colorado. By order of the 
Government, Gen. Banks reluctantly 
abandoned Texas and returned to New 
Orleans .579 

Erertim, of the Great Organ in the Bos- 
ton Music Hall, the largest and most 
perfect instrument of its kind in 
America. Its weight is 70 tons, and 
has 5,474 iiipes. Its cost was $60,000. 

Dec. Kehel Gcu. Forrest raided through 
W. Tennessee. 

Dec. 1. Meade crosses the Rapid.au. 
Grant concentrates his army at Chat- 
tanooga. 

Dec. 5. Longstreet raised the siege of 
Knoxville and moved east 5S3 

Dee. 6. Monitor Wechawlen sinks at her 
anchorage at Charleston, and 31 men 
lost. 

Sanitary Fair held in Cincinnati. Net 
proceeds were $335,000. 

Dec. 8. The President issues his amnesty 
proclamation. 

Dec. 16. Gen. Averill's raid destroys 
vast reljel supplies at Salem in S. VV. 
Virginia. 



1SG4. Jan. Second voyage of Hall to the polar 

" Jan. 1. Emancipation anniversary cele- 
brated by many colored people. 

" Advance of the Union forces toward 
Richmond, and attack of the enemy's 
works at llatclier's Run, but failing iu 
success, retire! to their position before 
Petersburg 589 

'' Jan. 25. Congress gives a vote of thanks 
to Cornelius Vanderbilt for his gift of 
the steamer Vaiulcrhilt to the United 
States, worth $800,0(J0. 

" Jan. 39. Gen. Palmer occupies Tunnell 
Hill, Ga. ; the rebels evacuating in the 

" Jan. Oen. Tl ■•■ r<'!,- .r:=n,ned command 
of the Ih I" ^!'s..,iiri.... 587 

" Feb. 1. lir<i '■ <! I' "ti men ordered. 

" Feb. 7. (liliiuiiv-^ :p|,:ince lands at 
J.acksonvillo, Fla., under Gen. Sey- 

" Rash and unsuccessful expedition of Gen. 
Seymour into Florida, and battle at 
Lake City, where he lost half bis force 
and guns. His retreat to Jacksonville, 
leaving the dead iu the enemy's 
hands 586 

" Feb. 8. Coifs aimni^, II;, lifoi-,!, Ct., de- 
stroyed by lire. Ln..-, s 1 .liOii.iKKi. 

•' Feb. 17. I'iiii.'iitbiiiic sunk at t_1)arlestou 
by rebel torpedo-boat 1/aois, which also 
sank. 

" Feb. Gen. Sherman advanced to Me- 
lidi.in. destroying a great amount of 
railroad |uo|Hrly, and captured 400 
1 ri-niurs, liiiMl white and 5,000 negro 
refugees 501 

" Feb. 30. Gen. Seymour, with Gilmore's 
troops, severely defeated at Olustee, 
Fla. 

" Feb. 31-33. Gen. Smith has three days' 
running light with Forrest and others, 
in I\Ussissi]i|)i, and at last defeats them. 

" 23. (!en. Palmer drives the rebels at 
Tunnell Hill, Ga. 

Kilpatrick's Raid. 
■' Feb. '.;!s. Kil|);itrick's raid into Virginia. 
He :ipiiioi(lMS within two miles of 
RieliinoiMl. (ieii. Dahlgren killed in 



.■xpedi 



Gen. Grant in Command. 

Mar. 3. Gen. Grant made Lieutenant- 
Gencral of the Union armies, and i)ro- 
ceeded to re-organize the forces. 

Mar. 4. A free State Government for 
Louisiana was inaugurated, with Gov. 
Halm at its head, before an immense 
and enthusiastic multitude in Lafayette 
Square, New Orleans 586 

Red River Expedition. 
Mar. Ad. Porter's expedition sailed up 
the Red River to Alexandria, captur- 
ing Fort De Russa, with ten guns, and 
283 prisoners on the way 586 

Thomas Starr Ring. 
M,ar. 4. Thomas Starr King, an eminent 
Unitarian clergyman, author and ora- 
tor, died in San Francisco. Mr. King, 
like the great majority of emi- 
nent Americans, was born poor, and 
was dependent upon his own exertions 
from the age of twelve to twenty for 
his own support and education, and 
the support of his widowed mother and 



CHEONOLOGY. 



787 



family. At the age of 22 he was es- 
tablished in his father's pulpit aud over 
his congregation, which he filled with 
great acceptance. He was called to 
Boston in 1848, and in 1S60 to San 
Francisco. He had in the meantime 
acquired a very high reputation, as an 
eloquent and effective lecturer, as well 
as preacher, and had addressed large 
audiences all over the United States, 
Mr. King was eminently popular in 
San Francisco, and all over the Pacific 
coast, and died regretted and deeply 
mourned by hosts of friends and ad- 
mirers all over the Northern and West- 
em States. 
Mar. 15. The President calls for 200,000 

more men to he drafted April 15th. 
Mar. 16. Arkansas votes to become a 

free State. 
Mar. 16. Alexandria surrendered to 

Porter without a struggle 586 

Mar. 17. Oen. Oraiit assumes entire com- 
truind of all the armies of the United 
States. 
Mar. 28, Battle of Crane River, La. 
Gen, Smith's forces defeat the rebel 
Gen. Taylor. 
Mar. 31. Juaez, with his Cabinet, Gov- 
ernment oflicials, and a band of sol- 
diers, took possession of Monterey, and 
established the national capitol. 
April 4. Gen. Steele attacked by Kirby 
Smith, at Jenkins' Ferry, Ark., with 
superior forces under Price, but after 
a furious battle. Price was defeated, 
■with a loss of 2,300 men and three 

Geuerfils 587 

April 4-23. New York Sanitary Com- 
mission Fair, receipts over $1,000,000. 
April 8. Defeat of Gen. Banlcs at Sabine 

Cross Roads by Kirby Smith. 
April 9. Smith repulsed by Banks at 

Pleasant Hill 586 

April 12. Fort Pillow Massacre un- 
der orders of the notorious guerrilla, 
Forrest, which was a relentless and 
wholesale murder of colored men, 
■women, and children, by the most cruel 
and savage means, many being fastened 
in the tents and burned alive, and the 
wounded and sick were made to stand 
up and be shot down like cattle ; the 
only plea being that the loyal white 
Southerners were " home-made Yan- 
kees," and the colored troops "nig- 
gers." This dastardly and savage 
slaughter will remain a black stain 
upon the history of Southern warfare 
as long as the story of the •' Great Re- 
bellion " is remembered. 
April 15. Maximilian accepts the crown 
of Menco from the French deputation. 
April 19. Porter's fleet aground in Red 

River by low water 586 

April 30. Plymouth, N. C, surrendered 
to the rebels by Gen. Wesseh, with 
1,600 prisoners, 25 guns, and valuable 

stores '. . 586 

April 24. Banks defeats the rebels un- 
der Gen. Bee at Crane River 586 

April 28. Washington, N. C, evacuated 
by Union troops; the ram Albemarle 
controls the Sound. 

Sherman's Grand March. 

May. Sherman began his march to the 
sea through the heart of the South. 
This was the closing drama of the 
campaign. He swept everything be- 
fore him. Atlanta taken aiid burned; 



Fort McAllister captured ; Savannah 
abandoned by the Confederates and 
taken ; Columbia, S. C., burned, and 
Raleigh, N. C, taken ; the Confederate 
army under Johnston surrendering at 
the latter place. Charleston also was 
evacuated after a siege of 543 days. 

Sherman before Atlanta. 

May. Gen. Sherman, with 100,000 men, 
comprising the army of the Cumber- 
land under Gen. Thomas, the army of 
Tennessee under Gen. McPherson, 
and the army of the Ohio under 
Gen. Schofield, together with 554 
pieces of artillery, began the campaign 
against Atlanta. The rebel army op- 
posing him under Gen. J. Jolmston, 
numbered 60,OU0, was divided into 
three corps, led by Generals Hardie, 
Hood, and Polk. 

May 3. Col. Bailey builds dams across 
Red River, and by raising the water, 
saves Porter's entire fleet 586 

May 4. Gen. Butler, in co-operation with 
Grunt, occupied City Point up the 
James River, and began intrench- 
ments, while Col. West, with a cavalry 
force, moved up the north bank and 
occupied Bermuda Hundred. 

May 4. Grant's army crosses the Rapi- 
dan 587 

May 5. Sea-fight in Albemarle Sound 
with the ram Albemarle, which is 
driven ofl". 

£att/e of the Wilderness. 

May 5. The battle of the Wilderness be- 
gan. This was the longest and most 
terrible engagement of tlie war, lasting 
from the 5th to the 21st, with great 
loss to both armies. The weather was 
intensely hot, the air still and stifling. 
The thickets caught fire, and amid 
the fearful carnage and din of war, 
the flames added fresh horror to the 
terrible scene. The smoke and heat 
blinded and nearly suflbcated th 
soldiers, who fought and fell amid the 
trampling legions which swept < 
them in their mad fury, leaving them 
to the mercy of the flames. 

General Meade reported the Union 
loss at 39,791. The rebel loss was not 
ascertained. 

May 7. Sherman advances from Chat 
tanooga on his Atlantic campaign. 

May 9. Gen. McPherson forces his way 
through Snake Creek Gap. 

May 10. Gen. Averill beaten at Wyther- 
■ville by a heavy force under John 
Morgan 590 

May. Gen. Crook repulsed by Gen, 
McCausland near Dublin Station. . 590 

May 10. Johnson evacuated Dalton, and 
retreated to Resaoa 591 

May 11. Sheridan's raid to the enemy's 
rear, destroying ten miles of the Vir- 
ginia Central liailroad and a large 
quantity of supplies, aud liberating 
400 prisoners. Reaching the tust line 
of works around Richmond, ho en- 
countered the enemy and killed their 
General, Stuart. 

May 15. Engagement between Gen. 
bigel and Gen. Breekenridge, who 
commanded a large force. Sigel was 
defeated and driven to Cedar Creek, 
losing 700 men, 6 guns, and a part of 
his train 589 



May 15. I'attle of New Market, W. Ya 

Sigel defeated. 
May 15, Banks' troops defeat the rebels 

at Aroyelle's Prairie, La. 
May 15. Johnston evacuates Resaca and 

retreats in the night to Oostenaula 

River, pursued by the Union army. 
May 16. Butler attacked Beauregard at 

Drury's Bluff and was driven into his 

intrenchments with a loss of 4,000 

men. 
May 19, Howard's forged proclamation 

for 400,000 troops appeared, 

Nathaniel Hawthorne. 

May 19. Death of Nathaniel Hawthorne' 
an author, at Plymouth, N. H. Mr. 
Hawthorne was the author of several 
widely -known romances, the most 
noted of which are " The Scarlet Let- 
ter," a weird and thrilling tale, and 
" The House with Seven Gables." 
Mr. Hawthorne was appointed United 
States Consul at Liverj5ooI by President 
Pierce, who was his life-long friend. 

May 21. Grant advances toward Rich.- 
mond to the North Anna. 

May 23-34. Grant crosses the North 
Anna. Lee still retiring. 

May 28. Sheridan had a cavalry en- 
gagement with Fitzhugh Lee and 
routed him, with a loss of 800 to the 
rebels. 

May 28. Attack of Johnston upon Mc» 
Pherson at Dallas, Johnston repulsed 
wich a loss of 3,000 , 591 

May 89. Maximilian arrises at Vera 
Cruz. 

May 31. Cold Harbor seized by Sher- 
idan 588 

June 1, Sheridan skirmishes around the 
left of Lee and routes a body of cavalry, 
under Wade Hampton, at Trevillian 
Station, taking several hundred prison^ 
ers. 

June 1. Johnston evacuates Allatoona 
Pass, and falls back to Keneaaw Moun- 
tain, and Sherman occupies it. 

Battle at Cold Harbor. 

June 3-8. Grant's advance engage the 
enemy anil hold their ground at a cost 
of 2,000 men. 

June 3. Grant makes a grand assault on 
the enemy, which was resisted with 
terrible force, The engagement lasted 
l)Ut twenty minutes. 

June 5. Oen. Hmiter, having succeeded 
Bigel, had an encounter with Gen. W, 
E. Jones at Piedmont, completely 
routing him, and capturing 1,500 
prisoners, 3 guns, and 3,000 small 
arms. Gen. Jones and a large nura-- 
ber of his men were killed 590 

June 13. Grant's army crosses the 
Chickahominy, and take position on the 
south side of the James River. Grant 
hastens to Bermuda to aid Butler in 
the capture of Petert^burg, which But- 
ler had already attacked 589 

Maximilian in Mexico. 

June 12, Maximilian enters the City of 
Jlexico amid scenes of great pomp and 
military parade. 

June 12. Gen. Burbridge defeats Mor- 
gan at Cynthiana, recapturing many 
prisoners. 



788 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1864. June 13-15. Grant moves bis army to 
the south side of James River. 

" June 13. Fugitive slave law repealed. 

" June l-t. Engagement between Sherman 
and Johnson. Gen. Polk killed. 

" June 14. tihennan still advancing. 

" June 15. Battle of Pine Mountain. Sher- 
man drives the rebels back to their 
works. 

" Juno 15. Fifty Union officers, prisoners, 
placed under lire at Charleston by the 
rebels. 

Gra/ii at Petersburg. 

" June 16. Grant makes a, grand assault 
on Petersburg ; Lee, with the most of 
his army, having arrived during the 
previous night. The day closed with 
heavy loss to the Union side, and no 
advantage gained 589 

Siege of Petersburg. 

" June 18. Grant again assaults the enemy 
before Petersburg, and is again re- 
pulsed with loss. He now intrenched 
his army, and besieged the city. . . 589 

" June 18. Hunter attacks Lynchburg, 
but finding it heavily reinforced by the 
arrival of General Lee, he retreats, 
sharply pursued across the Alleghany 
to Meadow Bluff, in W. Va 590 

^^ Kearsarge" Sinks the '^Alabama." 

" June 19. Naval fight between the rebel 
cruiser Alabama, Capt. Semmes, and 
the United States gun-boat Kearsair/e, 
Capt. Winslow, off Cherbourg, France. 
After an hour's engagement the Ala- 
hama ran up the white flag. Capt. 
Semmes jumping overboard, was taken 
on board the British yacht Deerhouml. 
The Alahama sank immediately. The 
Kearsarge picked up a part of her crew. 
She did not lose a man in the action, 
and but one was mortally wounded. 

" June 33. Hood attacks Hooker at Kene- 
saw, and fails, with a loss of 800 
men 593 

'' June 23. Emancipation amendment sub- 
mitted to the States by Congress. 

" June 33. Butler occupied Deep Bottom, 
ten miles from PJclimond, and throws 
a pontoon bridge over the James at 
that point. 

" June 34. Maryland Constitutional Con- 
vention adopts emancipation clause. 

" June 35. Sheridan has a successful 
cavalry fight on the Peninsula. 

" June 37. Tliomas and McPherson re- 
j)ulsed at Kenesaw, by Johnston's 
forces, with heavy loss. Gens. Barker 
and McCook among the killed. . . . 5'Jl 

" June 28. Wilson and Kautz attacked, 
and their troops dispersed at Double 
Bidge, on Nottoway Kiver. 

Chase Resigns. 

" June 30. Salmon P. Chase resigned his 
post as Secretary of the Treasury, after 
a faithful and wonderfully successful 
discharge of the duties of the oflice. 593 

Party s Raid. 

*' July 3. Early caused Sigel to retreat 
from Martinsburg to Maryland Heights, 
leaving heavy stores behind. 

" July 3. Sherman occupies Marietta and 



Kenesaw Mt., having flanked Johnston, 
and compelled hiui to evacuate. . . 5u2 

July 5-13. Early's raid into Maryland. 

July 9. Joliustoii retires to Opulika, 
and is soon tuprrseded by Hood, who 
assumes the oli'cMsive 592 

July '.!. Attack of the rebels upon Gen. 
VVall.ice near Frederick, who was 
forced to retreat. 

July 10. Pousseau, with 3,700 men, 
move^ into Aliiliiuna on a raid. 

Kel). lien. ISiallcv 'I'. Johnson aiiproaches 
Bultimore, rdiMiig a Philadelphia 
mail-train ami the passengers 590 

July 13. E'irlii's aitire army withinai.e 
miles of W'ifihiiKjtjiii. A skirmish en- 
sues, and dison-cring the Union forces 
to be more than doul.lr his own, he 
retreats across the rnionui'' witli a 
vast amount of plnivhr 500 

July 13-15. Gen. Smith .IdV-itK Forrest 
and others in five battles in Missis- 
sippi. 

Jul/ 15. Six steamers, worth $300,000, 
Inirncd at St. Louis bv inrcndinries. 

July 16. Gold about this time at its 
highest in New York, viz. , -si per cunt. 

July 17. Hood succociU .Johnston in 
command at Atlanta. 

July 17. Jaques and Gilmore in Rich- 
mond vainly suing for peace. 

July 18. Rousseau destroys an immense 
value in railroads and provisions in 
Alabama. 

July 18. Oi-edcjfs negotiatiovs roith the 
rehels at Niagara i-ome to naught. 

July 19. Gen. 'Wright, following in 
])ursuit of Early, was repulsed near 
Island Ford 590 

July 30. Averill defeats a division of 
Early's command, and captures four 
guns. 

Hood's Defeat. 

July 30 Hood witli his entire army 

de 1 SI 1 an five It. t om At 

1 ta an 1 a \ ^o o sly lei lei 

w tl a loss ot 5 000 i cli hn seve al 

( n ral Un lo s 00 50 

J ly J I st 1 1 1 c tio ot statement 

u the Oidti of Ame le n 

1 It 

J Iv si 1 1 to wtlin 

t 1 1 \ 1 I 5J 

J ly II I I I itt cl 

j / tl t c s losing 

1 001 n 1 I'd bt nl i lois ant 

m 11 r Uui n 1 bS 3 "^ 

1 1 n C 1 AIcPl I on among 

tl 1 11 1 5J2 

J I 1 11 1 a la g fo ce falls 

1 tl t 1 t C ook a 1 Aver U 

1 1 t M r 1 1 w th a 

111 1 1 ( M 1 



11 



1 wh 

J h tl ^I 

u 1 

nl 1 n 

1 cl 1 

t n nl 

J ly i / 

h/ I 



t tl 
i t 
/ tl 



^ 



1 1 1 cros 1 g the t 4 400 
kill 1 wo n lei a It ken i lis 



Farragut s Fight in Mobile Bay. 

Aug. 3. Commodore Farragut's splendid 
achievement in Mobile Bay. He si- 
lenced the forts at the entrance of the 
]!:iy, fought the whole Confederate 
fl.ct, and eaptured the monster ram 
Tviiiiensee, with her attendants. Forts 
Morgan and Gaines soon after capitu- 
lated. 

Aug. 7. Averill totally defeats McCaus- 
land and other rebels at Moorefield, 
AVest Virginia. 

Aug. 7. Oen. Sheridan takes commando/ 
the Midilte Department 590 

Aug. 8. Fort Gaines, at Mobile, surren- 
dered to Parragut and Granger. 

Aug. 10. Canal at Dutch Gap, below 
Kichmond, begun. 

Aug. 18. Battle at Reams' Station. 
Warren holds his position on the rail- 
road. 

A\ig. 33. Fort Morgan, at Mobile, sur- 
reudiTcd to Farragut and Granger. 

Auu'. 33. The 5th Illinois captured by 
SIhII.v iirnr Little Rock, Ark 587 

Au- ■■' i'. S, c.n.l luittle at Reams' Sta- 
tion the r.l.cis win. 

Auu. -1. MiChllan nominated for Presi- 
ilent at Chicago 593 

Evacuation of Atlanta. 

Aug. 31. Hood hastily evacuated At- 

l.inta, blowing up magazines and 

stores, destroying seven locomotives 

and 81 cars, and a large amount of 



Sei>t. 1. The guerrilla, Morgan, shot by 
(oilman's men at Greenville, East Ten- 
nessee. 

Sejit. 5. Sherman's united forces occupy 
Atlanta, and he orders a removal of 
(lie I itizens either North or South, as 



IC. Rebels drive 3,500 cattle safe 
loni Ijehiud Gen. Kautz's lines. 



Early s Retreat. 

Sept. 19. Battle on the Opequan Creek, 
near Winchester, between Sheridan 
;\ii<l Early, and precipitate retreat of 
Early through Winchester to Fisher's 
Hill, leaving behind his dead and 
wonnded, and nearly 3,000 prisoners, 
with five pieces of artillery and nine 
battle flags. The Union loss was 
about 3,000, including Gen. David A. 
Russell, killed. The rebels lost two 
Generals 590 

Sept. 19. Lake Erie steamers. Parsons 
and Island Queen, seized by rebels. 

Sept. 23. Sheridan pursued Early, and 
again routed him at Fisher's Hill, tak- 
ine- 1,100 prisoners and 16 guns. Ear- 
ly K.ntinues his flight, with Sheridan 
at his heels, btu-ning and devastating 
the whole valley in his passage, as far 
as Brown's Gap in the Blue Ridge. 

Battle at Pilot Knob. 

Sept. 37. Price attacked Gen. Ewing at 
Pilot Knob with a force of 10,000. 
Ewing, having but 1,300 men, stoutly 
resisted him till night, when he blew 
up his works and retreated to Rolla. 
Price moved North, and was followed 
by A. J. Smith, with 6,000 men. . 587 

Sept. 39. Battle at Chapin's Farm, near 
James River ; rebel works taken. 

Sept. 39. Butler captured Fort Uai-ri- 



CHEONOLOGY. 



789 



1864. son, one of the outposts of Richmond, 
with fifteen guns. 

" Oct. 5. Benlli of G. R Lamar, celebrated 
as a banker and cotton speculator 
during the war, and was financial 
agent for the Confederate Government, 
procuring the priming of their notes 
and bonds in New Yorlv city. He was 
arrested by order of the Secretary of 
War, and confined in the Old Capitol 
prison at Washington, and after his 
release was tried for bribery, and sen- 
tenced to several years' imprisonment; 
but his sentence was remitted by Pres- 
ident .Johnson. 

" Oct. 9. Battle of Round Top Mountain. 
Torbert chasing Rosser twenty -si.x 
miles. 

♦' Oct. 9. Sheridan attacked by Rosser with 
a large body of cavalry, but he defeated 
him, and took 300 prisoners and 11 
guns, causing him to flee rapidly for 
20 miles 590 

" Oct. 13. Death of Roger Broole Taney, 
Chief-Justice of the United States. He 
was appointed to this high office by 
President Jackson, as successor to 
Chief-Justice Marshall in 1836, which 
office he held until his death. 

" Oct. 18. Price reached Lexington, driv- 
ing Gen. Blunt, with a force from 
Kansas, before him 578 



Battle at Marias des Cygnes. 

Fight between Price and Pleasanton and 
the united forces of Curtis, on tlie Big 
Blue River, Ark. Price routed and 
fled southward, pursued by Pleasan- 
ton 587 

Sheridan visits Washington, leaving his 
army under command of Crook. . . 590 

Battle of Cedar Creek. 

Oct. 19. Early being heavily reinforced, 
hearing of Sheridan's absence, made a 
forced and secret march, and reached 
the Union camps at Cedar Creek during 
the night. At break of day, under a 
dense fog, with a deafening yell, and 
amid the blaze and crash of 10,000 
muskets, he captured the camps, and 
the panic-stricken army fled in con- 
fusion before a line of battle could be 
formed. The army pursued to the 
third position, occupied by Gen. 
Wright, who covered the retreat of 
the fugitive army, himself retreating 
while the enemy were plundering the 
deserted camps 590 

Oct. 19. Rebel refugees from Canada 
rol) banks and citizens at St. Albans, 
Vt. 

Sheridan's Ride. 

Oct. 19. Returning from Washington, 
Gen. Sheridan slept at Winchester, 
and was leisurely riding along, thirteen 
miles from the front, when he heard 
the sound of battle, and soon met 
the flying fugitives of his army. 
Putting spurs to his horse, he 
reached the front by ten .\.M., and 
cheering the disheartened soldiers 
with assurances of success, and assur- 
ing them by his presence, the retreat- 
ing and crestfallen army turned and 
were suddenly transformed into valiant 
soldiers, eager for victory. At three 
P.M. the order was given for the entire 
Union line to advance. In an instant 



1864. it moved swiftly and solidly on the 
enemy's position, under a tremendous 
fire of artillery and musketry. Palling 
back, they were again roused to one 
grand overwhelming charge by their 
gallant commander, when the rebels 
gave way, and the late victorious and 
exulting rebel army were in turn now 
fleeing, a panic stricken mob, before 
the cliarge of the brave and gallant 
Sheridan, who pursued them through 
Strasburg to W^oodstock, flfteen miles 
beyond. The Union army slept that 
night, as it had fought all day, without 
food. They captured 1,500 prisoners 
and 2.S guns, besides retaking the 24 
lost in the morning. This notable vic- 
tory closed the war in Shenandoah 

Valley 590 

" Oct. 25. Price again routed by Pleasan- 
ton at Marias lies Cyijnes,Ark., leaving 
8 guns, 1,000 prisoners, two Generals, 
and other officers 587 

Lieutenant Cushing's Feat. 

" Oct. 27. JMtel ram Albemarle destroyed 
by a torpedo in the Roanoke, which 
Lieut. Gushing secretly affixed to her, 
and swimming back under a heavy fire 
he escaped to the Union vessels in the 
offing 586 

" Oct. 31. Plymoutu retaken by a fleet 
under Com. McComb 586 



Union Supplies Burned. 

Burning of Union sujjplies and vessels to 
the amount of $1,500,000 at Johnson- 
ville, Tenn. The store buildings took 
fire from the union vessels, which 
were burned to prevent their capture 
by the enemy 593 

Nov. 8. McClellau resigns his com- 
mission. 



Lincoln's Re-election. 

Nov. 8. Abraham Lincoln was elected 
by an overwhelming majority to a 
second term in the President's Chair, 
with Andrew Johnson, of Tenn., as 
Vice-President, the soldiers voting 
nearly four to one in his liivor — the 
Repulilican platform being " The Re- 
establishment of the Union without 
Slavery." The Democratic platform, 
with McClellan for its candidate, was 
either the separation of the Union or 
its re-establishment with slavery. . 593 

Nov. 11. Sherman sent his last message 
by the telegraph connecting with the 
North, Revered the last wire, and 
moved from Atlanta, scattering the 
rebel forces before him, and destroying 
the railroads, and subsisting upon the 
invaded territory, and accumulating 
stores for the future supply of his 
army. 

Nov. 25. A gang of rebel incendiaries fre 
several hotels in New York, and Bar- 
num's Museum, but fortunately without 
success. 

Nov. 30. Battle of FranMin, Tenn. 
Hood attacks SchoSeld, and after a 
fierce and savage fight with bayouets 
and clubbed muskets, the battle ceased 
at ten p.m., with victory on the side of 
the Unionists — the rebels losing 0,000 
and Union loss 3,300 548 

Dec. 1. Hood prepares for siege before 
Nashville. 



Slavery Abolished. 

Dec. 0. The Thirteenth Amendmen'; 
to the Constitution passed, abolish- 
ing and forever prohibiting slavery 
throughout the United States. 

Dec. G. Salmon P. Chase appointed 
Chief-Justice in place of Roger B. 
Taney, deceased. 

Dec. 10. Savannah completely beleaguer- 
ed, and Sherman communicates with 
the fleet 595 

Dec. 13. Capture of Fort McAllister. 

Dec. 15-16. Battle of Nashville. Hood's 
army, fatally defeated by Gen. Thomas, 
fled in dismay, pursued by Wilson's 
cavalry. 

Dec. 20, Evacuation of Savannah hj 
Harden 595 

Capture of Savannah. 

Dec. 23. Sherman enters Savannah with 
his army and captures 35,000 bales of 
cotton, 150 cannon, and large quan- 
tities of ammunition. He sends the 
news to "President Lincoln as a 
Christmas present to the nation." . 595 

Dec. 18-20. Gen. Stonemau, raiding in 
Southwestern Virginia, has a severe 
fight with Breckenridge, defeating 
him. 

Dec. 19. The President orders a draft 
of 300,000 more men unless prevented 
by voluuteers. 

Dec. 34-25. Butler and Porter attack 
Fort Fisher, N. C, in vain. 

War between Ecuador and Spain. 

Jan. Surrender of the Republican forces 
in Mexico, under Diaz, to the Imperial- 
ists. 

War declared by the Argentine Republic 
against Paraguay. 

Freedmeiis Bureau. 

Establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau, 
an organization to protect the liberated 
slaves, the refugees from the tyranny of 
the secessionists, and for the further 
jjrotection of the rights of Government 
property, and of the loyal people in the 
bouth, and especially for the education 
and protection of the colored race. 
Gen. Oliver O. Howard appointed its 
head, or chief commander. 

Jan. 8. Blair and Ringleton visit Rich- 
mond to treat for peace. 

Jan. 16. Surrender of Fort Fisher to 
Gen. Terry, after a terrible resistance 
of three days, and the accidental blow- 
ing up of the magazine, killing and 
wounding 300 of the victors 596 

Jan. 16. Sherman sets apart lands for 
freedmen from Charleston southward. 

Bombardment of Wilmington. 

Jan. 23. Wilmington, N. C, surrendered 
to Gen. Terry, al'ter suflering a terrible 
fire for three days. The next morning 
the magazine blew up, killing 200 
Unionists and wounding 100 more. 

Jan. 31. Constitutional amendment 
abolishing slavery submitted by Con- 
gress to tUe States. 

Feb. 1. Sherman leaves Savannah and 
starts northward 595 

Feb. 3. President's conference with rebel 
commissioners. 

Surrender of Columbia. 

Feb. 17. Columliia, the capital of South 
Carolina, surrendered to Sherman by 



790 



CHEONOLOGT. 



Oen. Beauretiard. Gen, "Wade Ilamp- 
ton setting fire to tlie stores of cotton 
before lie left; tlie flames were com- 
municated by a liigli wind to the city, 
and a great portion of tbe city burned, 
in spite of the lal)ors of tiie Union 
soldiers to prevent the spread of the 
flames 595 

Surremh-r of Charleston. 

Feb. 18. Surrender qf Charleston by it3 
Mayor, with all its surrounding forts, 
to Gen. Gilmore, and its occupation, 
first, by a colored regiment, wearing 
the National uniform and bearing the 
National flag. The greater portion of 
the city was destroyed by the fire from 
the burning cotton, which the rebels 
set, and the explosion of large quantities 
of powder, killing 200 persons... 595 

Feb, 19. Gen. Schoiield captured Fort 
Anderson. Oeonjetmon hastily evacu- 
ated 596 

March 8-9. Gen. Can by captures Spanish 
Fort and Fort Blakely, the defenses of 
Mobile. 

March 16. Battle of Averysboro, N. C. 
Hardee withstands Sherman, but re- 
treats in the night 59G 

Emancipation amendment thus far 
adopted by 16 States. 

March 19-30. Battle at Bentomille, N. C. 
Johnston, with his whole army, attacks 
a division of Sherman's army, under 
Slocum. Johnston hastily retreated in 
the night of the 20th 596 

March 2'2. Gen. Thomas sends a large 
force of cavalry, under Gen. James H. 
Wilson, to raid in Northern Alabama. 
They attacked Forrest at Boyle's Creek 

and completely routed him 596 

March 35. Rebels take Fort Steadman, 
before Petersburg, but are quickly ex- 
pelled, losing 3,500. 
Kennedy, the New York hotel burner, 

hanged at Fort I^afayette. 
March 27. Sherman turns over his whole 
army to Schofield and hastens to City 
Point to consult with President Lincoln 
and Gen. Grant 590 

Davis Flees from Richmond. 
April 3. La^t grand assault of the ai-my 
of the Potomac upon the Confederate 
forces under Gen. Lee, during which 
the rebel Gen. Hill was killed. A 
telegram the same day from Gen. Lee 
to Jett". Davis reached him while in 
church, stating that Richmond must 
he evacuated that evening, sent con- 
sternation throughout the city, and 
Davis fled to tlie South, closely fol- 
lowed by Lee. 

Fall of Richmond. 
Aprils. Richmond, the capital of the Con- 
federate States, surrendered. Flight 
of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate 
President, and conmiander-in-chief of 
the Southern armies. The city was 
evacuated by night, and on the morn- 
ing of the third, Gen. Weitzel, with a 
colored brigade, entered the city and 
planted the Stars and Stripes upon 
fevery prominent point. The morning 
pf the fourth President Lincoln ar- 
rived, and leading his little son by the 
liand, walked from the boat-landing 
to General Weitzel's headquarters, 
•rhe colored people thronged about 



him, blessing him as he passed, and 
he was joyfully received by the re- 
maining wiiite people — the rebel ele- 
ment leaving with the Confederate 
army. 

Lee Pur sited. 

Sheridan and Meade pursued Lee, who 
was fleeing with the remnant of his 
army toward Danville. 

April 5. Selma, Ala., captured -n-ith 
large stores, 2,700 prisoners, and 32 
guns. Forrest and Rhoddy escaping 
in the night, 

Sheridan Captures Lee's Forces. 

April 6. Sheridan attacked a portion of 
Lee's forces near S.ailor's Creek, cap- 
turing 10 pieces of artillery, and a 
train of 400 wagons, and being rein- 
forced, a general attack was made,^ 
which resulted in a decided defeat of 
the enemy and a capture of 6,000 or 
7,000 prisoners, with Gens. Ewell and 
Custis, and several other oflicers of 
rank. 

April 7. Grant demanded a sdbren- 

DER OF THE SOCTirERN ARMY. 

April 8. Meade and Sheridan continue 
the pursuit of Lee, and capture his 
provision train and 25 pieces of artiU 
lery, intercepting his flight. 

President's Address. 

April 9. Address at the Executive Man- 
sion, in AVashington, of President Lin- 
coln, to a vast concoui'se of people, on 
the reconstruction of the Government. 

Surrender of Lee. 

April 9. Last cliargc of the defeated 
enemy, and ^iirivnilrr of the Southern 
army inidir il.n. Ilnlicrt E. Lee to 
Lieut.-Gcn. V . S. Craut at Appomattox, 

April 11. Bloeka<le changed by procla- 
mation to legal closure of ports. 

April 12. Canby's troops enter Mobile, 
the siege having lasted since March 

Ai)ril 13. Montgomery surrendered to 
Wihon , 

April 1". President Lincoln instructed 
the SecritaiT of War to issue an order, 
l)uttin;,f a stop to liuther drafting, re- 
ceiviu'^- of or purchase of war ma- 
terial ; and announced the speedy re- 
moval of restrictions upon trade and 
commerce. 

April 14. The anniversary of the sur- 
render of Fort Sumter to the rebels ; 
its old flag was again raised over the 
battered walls by the lirave and gal- 
lant Anderson, who had so valiantly 
defended it in 1861. 

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. 

April 14. By the hand of the assassin, 
John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln 
was shot, while witnessing a play from 
a private box in Ford's Theater, Wash- 
ington, D. C. The bold perpetrator of 
the deed rushed madly to the front of 
the box, and, with a drawn dagger, 
leaped upon the stan'r IkIdw,^ and 
escaped, amid tin.' t.nililr cMufusion 
which ensued. Tin- iim nu-ri.ms and 
bleeding form of the President was 
borne across the street to a private 
house, where he expired at half-past 
seven the next morning, surrounded by 



his Cabinet and the leading men of the 
Government, with his family, and at- 
tended by the ablest medical skill of 
the city. But nothing could awake to 
life or consciousness the giant brain 
whose motion and thought was forever 
stilled by that fatal messenger of death. 
As the lightning sped the news of this 
terrible tr.agedy over the myriads of 
wires, from one end of this vast re- 
public to the other, there went up one 
universal and prolonged wail of grief 
and anguish from the hearts of its loyal 
millions, who loved and revered the 
nnme of Abraham Lincoln, as dutiful 
children revere the name of a beloved 
and honored parent. N^ever before was 
this great nation so shocl-erl, so com- 
pletely overwhelmed with grief, at the 
death of any man — ruler or civilian — 
as that caused by the fall of their 
chieftain. Strong men wept who were 
unacq\iainted with tears, and a uni- 
versal pall hung over the hearts of the 
whole people like the cloudy curtain 
which darkened the noonday sun at 
the Crueiflxion of the Saviour; fur, to 
millions of aching hearts he had been 
a deliverer from a cruel bondage as 
well as the saviour of the country from 
the hands of its destroyers. There was 
not a hamlet so humble or remote that 
did not re-iiond to the sorrowful tidings 
with tlic cnilikins of mourning, and 
cities and towns seemed almost to vie 
witli each other in their solemn and 
funereal pomp. The orators and poets 
gave vent to the universal spirit of 
sadness in lengthened lines of eloquent 
eulogy and measured metre of mourn- 
ful song, and all hearts took up the 
refrain, 
" Gone, in his noble manhood, do^vn, 

We blindly qnestion, why ? 
When bells, and guns, and muffled druma 

Alone make sad reply." 

It was truly said that his funeral 
procession extended fifteen hundred 
miles— from Washington to Spring- 
field, III. For miles, in some places, 
the saddened citizens grouped along 
the railway, with heads uncovered and 
eyes overflowing with tears, as the 
solemn funeral train swept past. lie 
was finally interred in a beautiful and 
appropriate tomb in Springfield, where 
his honored dust is revered as some- 
thing sublimely sacred. 

Abraham Lincoln, 
Abr.aham Lincoln was born in the State 
of Kentucky. His father, Thomas 
Lincoln, was a poor, laboring man, who 
could neither read nor write, but who 
possessed a warm and generous nature. 
His mother had gifts of mind and 
person which found little scope for ex- 
< rilse or display in the rude pioneer 
jil'e to ^^llieh s!ie was subjected. But 
tlie hidden Ijeauty and grace of her 
character was nol)ly and truthfully re- 
vealed in the Hfe of her son. In speak- 
ing of her, long years after her death — 
for Mr. Lincoln lost his mothe: when 
but ten years of age— the grateful son 
exclaimed : "ill that I am, or hope to 
be, I owe to my angel-mother ; bless- 
ings on her memory." So extreme was 
the poverty of his parents, that after 
more than ten years of struggle with 
hardship and privation, his father sold 



CHRONOLOGY. 



791 



18G5. his little farm and removed to the 
wilderness of Indiana, and all the 
effects of the lamily, with themselves, 
were carried, a seven days' journey, on 
the backs of three horses! Here the 
sturdy pioneer began life anew, in the 
forest. Their home was as cheerless 
and comfortless as it is possible for the 
reader, in this land of plenty, to con- 
ceive. And here grew up, amid poverty 
and privation in every form, the boy 
who was destined, not only to fill the 
highest place of honor in a great and 
enlighteued nation, and who should be 
revered and almost idolized by the 
people, but who should be regarded, by 
the great nations of the Old World, as 
was expressed by a London journal, 
after his assassination, " as the best, if 
not the ablest, man then ruling over 
any country in the civilized world." 
Step by step, through adversity and 
trials, through poverty and the most 
menial and laborious toil, this coura- 
geous and noble boy climbed the ladder 
which leads to the heights of worldly 
honor and fame. 

But upon the threshold of life, when 
laying the foundation of his future 
greatness, "the boy gave promise of 
the man" in the clear integrity of 
character, the devotion and honesty 
of purpose and principle, the modesty 
of manner, and the respect and ven- 
eration of superior worth and age — all 
together, forming the basis of a char- 
acter so noble and so pure and upright 
that no temptation could swerve and 
no power could corrupt. There is a 
peculiar charm and satisfaction blended 
in the history of nearly every great 
and good man which this country has 
produced. One by one they have 
risen from the humble walks of life 
and from the lowly vale of poverty and 
the field of manual labor, to occupy 
positions of honor and trust, as the 
choice of a free people, which the 
pampered, and often despised, heredi- 
tary ruler of a realm might well envy. 
One incident in the character of the 
boy will illustrate the principle of the 
man. He was employed to attend a 
store and mill, by some parties for 
whom he had faithfully discharged the 
duties and trust of an arduous under- 
taking, and while waiting upon custom- 
ers in the store, he took six and a 
quarter cents too much in settling a 
bill of goods with a woman. He did 
not discover his mistake until late at 
night, when reckoning up his accounts 
for the day, but before he slept he 
walked two and a half miles and 
carried the money to her. Again, in 
weighing out some tea for a woman, he 
found, by an accidental defect in the 
scales, that he had given her scant 
weight by four oimces. lie carried her 
the tea as soon as he discovered his 
mistake, and before he ate his break 
fast in the morning. At the present 
day, and under the prevailing n^oral 
code among tradesmen, such scrupulous 
adherence to the principles of honesty 
would meet with ridicule, and would 
often cost a young man his situation. 

In 1833, when the Black Hawk in- 
vasion called for volunteers, Abraham 
was one of the fii-st to respond. When 
the Captain of their company was to 
be chosen, there were but two can 



didates : one, a Mr. Kirkpatrick, a 
man of extensive influence, and for 
whom Abraham had once worked, but 
who was so overbeariug and tyrannical 
that he left his employ, and the other 
was Abraham Lincoln. The mode of 
election was as novel as it was simple. 
The candidates were placed apart, and 
each one was at liberty to take his 
place by the candidate of his choice. 
Nearly the whole company were soon 
gathered arouud Lincoln. This he 
felt to be the proudest day of his life. 
They marched to the scene of action. 
Zachary Taylor was the Colonel of the 
regiment in which Lincoln was Captain. 
Black Hawk was taken prisoner and 
his band routed. Upon his return 
home, he managed to borrow a few- 
books, and began to prepare himself 
for the study of the law. His student- 
life would appall the heart of any mod- 
ern law student. His study was usu- 
ally the shade of an oak tree, or the 
one room of a log-cabin, by the light 
ofthelog-flre or a dim tallow candle. 
In 1834 Mr. Lincoln was elected to the 
Legislature of Illinois. When it as- 
sembled, he trudged on foot a dis- 
tapce of one Ijundred miles to the 
capital, with his "baggage" tied in a 
bundle, which he carried upon his back. 
At the close of the session ho walked 
back, and continued his studies, sup- 
porting himself by surveying, a knowl- 
edge of which he had acquired by 
private study. In 1836 he was re-elect- 
ed to the State Legislature. He was 
now 27 years of age, and a prominent 
man in the State. He was already a 
fluent and eloquent speaker. It was 
in this Legislature that Mr. Lincoln 
first met Stephen A. Douglas, and here 
he made his fli'st protest against the 
slave power. 

At the close of the session he en- 
tered the law-office of Major Stuart, of 
Springfield, as his partner. The capital 
was removed to Springfield, and Mr. 
Lincoln, by successive elections, was 
continued in the Legislature, and was 
recognized as the leading Whig mem- 
ber. His success at the bar was rapid 
and brilliant. He soon gained the 
confidence of the public, as he never 
would advocate a cause which he did 
not believe to be just, and no cause 
was too impopular for him to advo- 
cate where he thought his client was 
in the right. He never refused to ad- 
vocate the cause of a fugitive slave, 
or to defend a man who was charged 
with the crime of helping a fugitive 
on his way to Canada. In 1847 Mr. 
Lincoln took his seat in the national 
Congress, having been elected by a 
very great majority. Here he advo- 
cated the reform measures, and strenu- 
ously opposed the Mexican war. At 
the end of his term he resumed the 
practice of law. Upon the abrogation 
of tlie Missouri Compromise, which 
threw open the great and free terri- 
tories of the Northwest to the inva- 
sion of slavery, the indignation of 
Mr. Lincoln was thorouglily aroused, 
and he became convinced that there 
would be no cessation of the conflict 
until either slavery or freedom should 
gain the victory. 

Mr. Douglas, with whom he had 
been intimately associated, was re- 



sponsible for the bill which repealed 
the Compromise, and which the 
North regarded ms his bid for Sonth- 
ern votes to secure the Presidency. 
He was a man of giant intellect and 
great popularity, and in iiublic speech- 
es he was defending the "Kansas-Ne- 
braska " liill. There was alreaily great 
excitement aroused Concerning it, and 
the whole Nortli were stirred to a feel- 
ing of intense opposition to the arbi- 
trary encroachnunt of the slave power. 
Mr. Lincoln having allied himself 
with the Hepubliean party, was pre- 
pared to defend its issues, and there- 
fore he challenged Mr. Douglas to 
canvass tlie State of Illinois with him, 
both to speak upon their respective 
party issues before the same audience. 
Mr. Douglas accepted the challenge, 
and arrangements were made to speak 
in seven leading towns. These meet- 
ings were attended by a vast concourse 
of people, and created the most in- 
tense excitement throughout the West. 
The speeches were published in a 
pamphlet, and used as a campaign 
document. The universal verdict was 
that Mr. Lincoln was the victor. 
There is no doubt but the popularity 
he acquired in this campaign secured 
his nomination for the Pre.'-idency. 
During a speech he was at one time 
making upon the issues of the hour, 
he was interrupted by a voice from 
the crowd: "Mr. Lincoln, is it true 
that you entered this State barefoot, 
driving a yoke of oxen ? " For a mo- 
ment Mr. Lincoln paused, during 
which there was breathless silence, 
then deliberately he answered: "I 
think that I can prove the fact by at 
least a dozen men in this crowd, any 
one of whom is more respectable than 
the questioner." Resuming the elo- 
quent strain, as if he had not been in- 
terrupted, he said: "Yes, we wil! 
speak for freedom and against slavery 
as long as the Constitution of our 
country guarantees free speech ; until 
everywhere on this wide land the sun 
shall shine, and the rain shall fall, and 
the wind sliall blow upon no man who 
goes forth to unrequited toil." 

To illustrate the peculiar and happy 
vein of humor that was a chief attrac- 
tion of his nature, the following wit- 
ticism is apropos : When asked by a 
friend how he felt after his defeat in 
the Senatorial election, he replied, " I 
felt like the boy who had stubbed his 
toe — too badly to laugh, and too big 
to cry." 

On the IGth of June, 18G0, the Re- 
publicans met in Convention at Chi- 
cago. There were at least 25,000 
delegates and straugers in the city, 
who were drawn by the Convention. 
Tlie citizens of Chicago erected an im- 
mense building, which they called the 
" Wigwam," for the accommodation 
of the meeting. There were eleven 
candidates for whom votes were cast. 
It was generally expected that Wm. 
II. Seward would be the nominee. 
He was a statesman of great promi- 
nence and popularity. On the first 
ballot, Mr. Seward received 173^ voles 
and Abraham Lincoln 172. The bal- 
loting was now confined to these two 
candidates. At the third ballot, Lin- 
coln was elected, by the transfer of the 



792 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1865. four Ohio votes to him. Such a 
scene ;!S followed baffles description. 
Pen is iiia.Iennate to iiortrav the wild, 



ri'iieated in a [iriii-( t uinprsl ot lniZ7.as 
by the immense tliron^ outside the 
building who awaited the results, 
which were signaled by a man from 
the roof of the " Wigwam." " Fire 
the salute ! Abe Lincoln is nominated ! " 
the secretary shouted ; and the tuaiult- 
uous cheering inside, blending with 
roars of applause on the outside, was 
so deafening that the thunders of the 
cannon were unheard by many upon 
the platform. AVhen the committee 
who were to await upou Mr. Lincoln 
with the formal announcement arrived 
in Springfield, his friends sent in 
several hampers of wine for their en- 
tertainment, but true to his principles 
of" abstinence,'' he returned them with 
words of kindness and gratitude. 
The committee met in Mr. Lincoln's 
parlor. At the close of the ceremony 
he said : " As a suitable conclusion of 
an interview so imiDortant, courtesy 
reiiuires that I should treat the com- 
mittee with something to drink." 
Stepping to the door he called, " Mary ! 
JIary ! " A young girl appeared; he 
spoke to her in a low tone, and closed 
the door. Presently the j;irl entered, 
bearing a large waiter with a pitcher 
and several tumblers, which she placed 
upon a table in the center of the room. 
Mr. Lincoln arose and said : " Gentle- 
men, we must pledge our mutual 
healtlis in the most healthy beverage 
which God has given to man. It is 
the only beverage I have ever used or 
allowetl in my family, and I can not 
conscientiously depart from it ou this 
occasion. It is pure Adam's ale from 
the spring." Taking a tumbler, he 
touched it to his lips, and his guests 
followed his example. When it was 
known that Alic Lincoln, the " rail- 
splitter" and the " alM.litionist " was 
elected, the rage of liic South knew 
no bounds. No hin^u;i;j>' \v:is liitter or 
strong enough to turni;-ili tlicni with 
invectives. No name was vile enough 
for them to apjjly to the hated 
"Yankee" who would sit in the 
Presidential Chair the following 4th 
of March. Four days after his election, 
a bill was introduced into the Legis- 
lature of South Carolina calling for 
10,000 volunteers; her two United 
States Senators resigned their seats, 
and a Secession Convention was called. 
From this time on the South insanely 
swcllrd the liilo ot trrason, and State 
:dt. 1 Slate fill into liur, and defied the 
L'niird Stairs (oiTcrnment, insulted 
her tlag, captured her fcrts and arse- 
nals, and flaimted their declarations cf 
war and their menaces upou every 
breeze. Ui)on the approach of the 
Pnsiilcnt clrft to Washington, the 
s]iirii ol sici.-sion was so rampant that 
]\lr, Linrolii uelded to the entreaties 
of his friends and secretly took a 
night train at Baltimore, thus evading 
the assassinators who boldly threat- 
ened his life. His inauguration was 
attended by a large military force, 
under General Scott. Openly every- 
thing passed ofl" quietly, Imt secretly 
the " demon of destruction " was 



plotting vengeance and death to the 
nation and her noble defenders. On 
the Vlth of April the long-smoulder- 
ing volcano burst in its fury upon 
Sumter. Like a shock from an electric 
liattcrv, the news at first jjaralyzed 
the whole Noi-lli, but in a sudden re- 
action, cvoiy lov.il mill ^pniiiu' to his 
feet eager to ui\i- liis lil'r ior liis crjun- 
try. Never sliirr tlir I'.rilisl. lired the 
first shot at L.v\in-loi. uriv the loval 
heaitsof Aiiirrira so u.-oimht up, and 

to defend their national lite and lionor; 
and nobly thev fullilled their pledues. 
The history of that fearful homicidal 
struggle is written in the blood of six 
hini.'lrnl thousaml victims to the 
"IomI III' \\':ij-," The national Govern- 
niriii riili-li 1 ■.'.r.'iii, :,■>:! soldiers, and 
the a--iv-ili' lo.t of til.- war to the 

aside fi'om ih,' ,i o|:,ii,,m ,,nl nii,,' 

of action. The North urgeil the issue 
of a prcolamation of emancipation. 
Mr. Lincoln replied : " I do not wish 
to issue a document that the whole 



At Icn-lh, oM S 


|il. 


-Dili, Mr. Lincoln 


sul.niitte.l tlir M 




ird Prorlamafion 


of Emancii.alioi 


to 


hi. Caliinet, and 


the 2-M it UMs |. 


Mi- 


ml to ilu' world. 


It took elR-ct til.' 


til- , 


il.iyof January, 


ISUS. Great e>: 


itn 


lent followed its 


final annoiinciai 


cut. 


and tlie loval 


people of the Ni 


nil 


vnv little Irss're- 


joiced than were 


the 


lliivi- millions of 


slaves whom it 


ill,., 


itnl for via- from 


a cruel bond,age. 


( );-, 


liir Ifh of March, 


1803, Abraham 


Lin 


■oin was inaugu- 


rated the second t 


imr 


is President of the 


L'uited States, an 


i.iu 


t one month from 


that time the c; 




1 of the Southern 


Coilfrdeivirv IMI, 


'".1 


its foriorn Presi- 


diaitlled in'i'i ! 




' 'ing refuge and 


finding iHM- 




'■:iuse was lost, 
1 Mid ruined, and 


theii.sclvrs iliMl- 


Iiol 


-d. But with a 


drspnation honi 
ofsc. i-siiiiiatl.a 


ofl 

llll.- 


U.lnr-S, the spirit 

lon,.|;i.t despair- 


ing l)lo\v at till- 1 


tVi 


flheCovernment. 


A .secret and diabol 


cal plot was laid. 


which involved 


the 


assassination of 


every member 


of 


the Cabinet, but 


which, from some 


mknown reason. 


faileil of aceomi 


lish 


nent. beyond the 


murder of the 


Pies 


ilent and the at- 


tempted assassination of Secretary Sew- 



No more fitting or more beautiful 
tribute could be paid the character of 
this truly great ami good man, than to 
c|iiotr till' rlosinu' paragraph of his last 
iiiaiimual iiililivss, delivered in the 
hour of hi- rountry's triumph, and 
from the supreme height of Came to 
■which he had steadily and surely ad- 
vanced in the mighty march of human 
events. The lovinsr and fi)rgiving 

frayed in tlirs- «onls, are more the 
lan-uage of the meek ami lowly follower 
of Jesus, than that of a great and world- 
renowned ruler of a mighty nation: 

" ' Woe unto the world because of 
offenses, for it must needs be that 
offenses Come ; but woe to that man by 
whom the ottense Cometh.' If we shall 
suppose that American slavery is one 



18G5. of these offenses, which, in the provi- 
dence of God, must needs come, but 
which, having continued through His 
appointed time. He now wills to re- 
move, and that He gives to both North 
and South this terrible war, as the woe 
due to those by whom the oflfense came ; 
sliall we discern therein any departure 
from those Divine attriivatcs which the 
believers in a living God always ascribe 
to Him ? Fondly do wc hope, fervently 
do we pray, that this mighty scourge 
of war may soon pass away. Yet, if 
God will that it continue until all the 
Wealth jiiled up by the bondman's two 
hundred and fifty years of unrequited 
toil shall lie sunk, and until every drop 
of blood drawn with the lash shall be 
paid with another drawn with the 
sword, as was said three thousand 
years aLjo, so still it must be said : ' The 
Jill mints of the Lord are true and 
lijliiioiis altogether.' With malice 
low mil none, with charity for all, with 
tiiiniiess in the right— as God gives us 
to see the right— let us strive to finish 
the work we are in, to bind up the 
nation's wounds, to care for him who 
shall have Imine the battle, and for his 
willow mill his orphans, to do all which 
miy achieve and cherish a just and 
lasting peace among ourselves and with 
all nations." 

Assault upon Secretary Setvard. 
" April 14. Attempted assassination of 
Secretary Seward by Payne, Booth's 
confederate. He entered the sick 
chamber of Mr. Seward under pre- 
tense of bringing a prescription from 
his physician— assaulted and wounded 
Mr. Seward's son at the door, fell upon 
]Mr. Seward upon his bed and stabbed 
him several times before he was 
arrested. Great consternation ensued 
when it was learned that it was a result 
of a great conspiracy, among the rebels, 
to assassinate the " President and his 
Cabinet and take violent ijossession of 
the Government. 

Valentine Mott. 

" April. Death in New Y'ork of Valentine 
Mott, M.D., at the age of eighty 
years, caused by the shock of the 
iiews of the death of President Lin- 
coln, which he received in perfect 
health, and Which completely pros- 
trated him. He lived but ten days 
.alter receiving the sad news, and 
gradually sank away like one whose 
vitality had been wasted by a long and 
fatal disease. He wjis the most emi- 
nent surgeon America ever produced, 
and a man of rare ability and large 
sympathies, which the long practice 
of surgery had not blunted, and with 
which the manner of his death provetl 
him to be eminently endowed. 

" April 15. Inauguration of Andrew 
Johnson as President of the United 
States. 

" April IG. Cohnnbus tahen ly Wilson. 

" April 16. Wed Point, with its garriscv, 
captured hi/ La Gruvge 5'JO 

Sherman s Peace. 
" April 18. Agreement between Sherman 
and Johnston for suspension of hostili- 
ties with a basis for peace, which was 
rejected by the President. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



793 



Surrender of Macon. 
1865. April 21. Wilson entered Macon, and 
1,200 militia, with five Generals, were 
surrendered by Gen. Howell Cobb. 597 

Capture of Booth. 
" April 25. Booth discovered in a baru in 
Virginia, and, refusing to surrender, 
was shot 5'Jl 

Jo/uistoit's Surrender. 
" April 36. Siu-iender to Gen. Sherman 
and disbandment of Johnston's army 
upon the same terms of Lee's sur- 
render. 

Loss of the " Sultana."" 
" April 2S. Steamer Si/Jtana burned near 

Memijhis. 1,500 souls lost out of 

2,106. 
" May 1. An alliance formed between 

Argentine Republic, Uruguay, and 

Brazil to conquer Paraguay. 
" May 4. Surrender of Oen. Dick Taylor 

to Oen. Canhy. 
" May ',». Assassins of Mr. Lincoln put upon 

trial at Washington. 

Capture of Jeff. Davis. 
" Slay 11. Capture of the rebel President, 
Jefferson Davis, near Irwinsville, Ga., 
by a force of Wilson's company at 
Macon, commanded by Lieut.-Cols. 
Pritchard and Harden. He was dis- 
guised as a woman. 

Grand Review of the Army. 
« May 23-24. The Union army at Wash- 
ington pass in grand review before the 
President and Cabinet, Foreign Minis- 
ters, and a vast concourse of people. 599 

Gen. Smith's Surrender. 

" May 26. Surrender of Gen. Smith, witli 
his entire command, to Gen. Canby, in 
Texas. 

Last Conflict. 

" May 27. Last conflict of the w.ar on land 
took place on the Rio Grande. Gen. 
Stoiighton, with a superior force, drove 
Col. Barrett, with a loss of 80 men, into 
Brazos. 

" May 29. President Johnson proclaims 
an amnesty with 14 different excep- 
tions. 

" May 30. Second Sanitary Fair at Chi- 
cago. A fund raised of $200,000. 

Burning of Union Stores. 

" June 10. Great fire at Nash'oille,'burnin(j 
light or ten million dollars worth of If. 
S. stores and property. 

" June 15. Last rebel fort yielded. Gal- 
veston quietly occupied by Admiral 
Thatcher. 

" June 23. Up to this date tlie pirate 
Shenandoah had destroyed 10 whalers. 

" Trade restrictions removed and blockade 
ended. 

Llanging of the Assassins. 
" July 7. The assassins, Harrold, Payne, 
Atzeroth, and Mrs. Surratt, liung at 
Washington ; the others, Arnold, Mudd, 
Spangler, and McLaughlin, imprisoned 
for lite. 



July 13. Barniini's Museum., New Fori,' 1865. 
destroyed bi/ fire. \ 

Aug. 14. Great Ketchum forgery, of 
some $2,000,000, discovered in New 
York. 

Aug. 15. Wirz, keeper of Andcrsonville 
prison, put upon trial. 

Mississippi inillin,d k,,;.-<.s/,j/i. ordinance 
and accepted ciiianciiiMlinii. 

Sept. 13. Ahibiiiini ili,-l,in:l t!ic ordinance 
of secession mill mul mnl, abolished 
slavery, and ri|ni(li;itiil llic rebel debt. 

Sept. 14. KclKlliiiliaii t hi. fs sign treaty 
of loyalty with the UnitL'd ytates. 

Sept. 15. Snith Carolina repealed the se- 
cession ordinance and declared slavery 
abolished. 

Sept. 23. Alabama Convention recognized 
emancipation. 

Sept. 29. Gov. Sharkey, of Mississippi, 
recognized by proclamation the rights 
of the negro. 

Oct. 2. Government of Cuba surrendered 
the pirate Stoneicall to the United 
States. 

Oct. 7. North Carolina declared secession 
null and void, prohibited slavery in the 
State forever, and repudiated the rebel 
debt. 

Oct. Earthquake shock in California. 1865- 
Considerable damage done to prop- 
erty, and much excitement caused. 

Oct. 11. Alex. Stephens and other 
prominent rebels released from Fort 
Warren. 

Oct. 11. Ferguson the guerrilla hung 
in Nashville, and Magruder the guer- 
rilla hung in Louisville. 

Oct. 12. Martial law declared ended in 
Kentucky by the President. 

Oct. 25. Florida annulled the secession 
ordinance. 

Nov. The pirate-ship Shenandoah cruised 
in the Pacific, capturing numerous 
Union merchant ships and whalers, 
and during this month proceeded to 
the Mersey and surrendered to the 
English Government. 

Nov. Napoleon III. repudiates Maxi- 
riiilian and his Government in Mexico. 

Execution of ll'irz. 

Nov. 10. Wirz executed at the Old Capi- 
tol prison. 

Nov. 13. South Carolina passed the Con- 
stitutional Amendment. 

Dec. 1 . Writ of habeas corpus restored 
in the Northern States by the Presi- 
dent. 

Dec. 2. Alfifirima ratified the Anti-slavery 

Dec. 4. lliiii-qiii di'i-lared slavery abol- 
ished, nii.l in'illijiul her tear debt. 

Dec. 6. Florida declared slavery abol- 
ished. 

Thomas Corwin. 
Dec. 18. Death of Hon. Thomas Corwin, 
an eminent American statesman, in 
Washington, D. D. In 1818 Mr. Corwin 
was admitted to the bar, and by his 
ability as an advocate, he soon gained 
an extensive practice, and was first sent 
to the Legislature of Ohio in 1822, and 
served seven years, and to Congress in 
1830. In 1840 he was Governor of 
Ohio. In 1844 Mr. Corwin was elected 
to the United States Senate. In 1850 
he was aiipointed Secretary of the 
United States Treasury, and at the 
expiration of his term he was again 



elected to Congress, and re-elected; 
and when Mr. Lincoln became Presi- 
dent, he apijoiiitcd NIr. Cor.vin Minis- 
ter to Mexico. As an orator, Mr. 
Corwin was singularly captivating, 
and his kind, genial nature made him 
a general favorite, although his sar- 
casm was cutting, yet S|) ced and soft- 
ened by a sparkling and genuine wit. 

Dec. 18. Sec. ^^oward officially de- 
clared slavery abolished throughout 
the United States. 

Dec. 28. Florida ratified, the Thirteenth 
Amendment. 

Henry Winter Davis, of Maryland, died. 

Agassiz visits Brazil. 

Peru rejects a treaty with Spain and 
forms an alliance with Chili. 

Dom Pedro emancipates the Onrernmenl 
slaves. 

There were 354 fires this year, where the 
loss was upward of $20,000. at which 
property valued at $43,419,000 was de- 
stroyed. 

Losses by fire fnan \S"> to ISnS, inclu- 
sive, amountrd to ^214 58s,000. 

Smithsonian Institute ;it Washington 
badly burned ; the nietrorulogical de- 
partment sufl'ered severely. 
1870. War between Brazil and Paraguay 
terminated. 

Jan. 12. Order by Gen. Grant for the 
protection of loyal citizens in the 
South. 

Jan. 22. Free Si-hool bill defetded in the 
Tennessee Senate. 

Apr. 2. Proclamation of the President 
declaring the insurrection ended in 
the rebellious States. 

Civil Rights Bill. 

Apr. 2. Civil Rights bill pnssed the 
Senate over the President's veto by 
a vote of 33 to 15, and the House on 
the 9th, by a vote of 122 to 41, and 
became a law. 

May 10. Peru and Chili, aided by Bo- 
livia and Ecuador, declared war with 
Spain. 

The Spaniards defeated, withdraw from 
Peruvian waters. 

Brazil opens her important rivers to the 
commerce of foreign nations. 

May 21. Academy of Music and Uni- 
versity Medical College in New York 
burned. 

General Scott. 
May 29. Death of Brevet Lieut.-Gen. Win- 
field Scott. In 1807 Gen. Scott obtained 
a commission as Captain of light artil- 
lery. Recruiting a company, he was 
stationed at Baton Rouge, La. In 
1813 he was a Lieut.-Col. in the 3d 
artillery, and was stationed at Black 
Rock. He was taken prisoner at the 
battle of Queenstown Heights, and was 
exchanged in January following. He 
was wounded in the battle of Fort 
George, and again at the battle of 
Luudy's Lane, and for his bravery he 
was breveted "Major -General," and 
Congress voted him a gold medal, and 
he was tendered a position in the 
Cabinet as Secretary of War, which he 
declined. Gen. Scott commanded the 
troops in the Black Hawk war of 1832. 
In 1835 he was in the Creek war. He 
was nominated as Whig candidate for 
President in 1840, but declined in 
favor of Harrison. In 1841 he wai 



794 



CHEONOLOGY. 



plnocd at the head of the army as Gcn- 
eral-iu-chief, and upon the outbreak 
of the war with Mexico, he was ordered 
there, and arrived in time to capture 
Vera Cruz. April 18th he defeated the 
Jlexiean army under Santa Anna at 
C'crro (".onld," ;ind c.inlinur.l his con- 
(,u,sls (v.TV stinim-l„.M falling- b.'fore 
his victuriiiiis iu:nvli, until tlu' 1-lth of 
>I.iy lie entered tin City of :\Iexieo in 
triumph. This virtually ended the 
war. In 1853 Gen. Scott was again a 
candidate for President, and was de- 
feated by Franklin Pierce. In Feb., 
1855, he was breveted Lieutenant-Gov- 



ernor for his bra 



in Mc 



At 



the commencement of the Rebellion 
he was offered every inducement by 
the South to join their sidr, but his 
loyalty withstood Ihcni ; and his noble 
answer to a commander from Virginia 
speaks more for his honor than volumes 
written in his praise : " 1 have served 
my covmtry under the flag of the Union 
for more than fifty years, and so long 
as God permits me to live I will defend 
that flag with my sword, even if my 
own na"tive State assails it." Feeling 
too infirm with age to discharge the 
duties of Commander-in-chief, Gen. I 
Scott rctited from his otBce Oct. 31, 
1861, and in Nov. sailed for Europe for 
liis health. Gen. Scott was the author 
of several valuable military works, and 
his Autobiography. As a man, Gen. 
Scott possessed great physical sym- 
metry, beauty, and strength. He was 
courteous and dignified, and a_ gentle- 
man of unsullied honor, and his char- 
acter was without a stain. 

Fenian Invasion. 
June 1. Fenian invasion into Canada, 
under command of Col. O'Neil, but 
■which was soon suppressed by the 
Canada Volunteers after a sharp skir- 
mish. A number of the Fenians were 
taken prisoners, and nine Volunteers 
killed and several wounded. 

Fourteenth Amendment. 
June 8. The Uth Constitutional Amend- 
ment passed the Senate by a vote of 
33 to 11, and the House, on the 13th, 
by a vote of 120 against 32. 

Lewis Cass. 
June 17. Death of Hon. Lewis Cass, an 
American statesman. Mr. ^Cass was 
admitted to the bar at the age of 20, 
and in 1806 he took a seat in'the Ohio 
Legislature. He drafted the law which 
enabled the authorities to arrest .'\aron 
Burr. In 1807 Mr. Cass was Marshal 
of the State of Ohio, and in 1812 he 
entered s< rvirc in the war as Col. of 
the 3d ohi.i Viilunl( crs. He was after- 
ward piiMiMitcd lo the rank of Brig- 
adier-ticncral. In lsl3 he was ap- 
pointed civil Governor over the Ter- 
ritory of Michigan, and Supt.-Coramis- 
sioner over Indian Aflairs. He was 
appointed Secretary of War under 
President Jackson, and in 1836 Minis- 
ter to France. In ls4o he was elected 
to the United States Senate, and in 
1848 nominated as candidate for Presi- 
dent. In 1851 he was re-elected to 
the Senate, and under President Bu- 
chanan was appointed Secretary of 



Slalr. I'ul \\\»i\\ the President's refus- 
in: l.i .li^|i ilrli troops and supplies to 
jMajor All. I. r, on at Fort Suinter, Mr. 
Cass rcsiuni ,1 his ^Secretaryship, there- 
by tlosinu' up a jiiiMic career of 50 
years of continuous dnraticjii. 

B limine; of Portland, Me. 
July 4. A fire caught from a fire-cracker 
thrown among some shavings in a 
cooper-shop by a boy, which spread, 
and swept away one-h.alf of the city of 
Portland, passing over the entire busi- 
ness porti<m of the city, and leaving 
not a vestige of property in its track 
of one and a half miles long by one- 
fourth of a mile in width. Hundreds 
of fimilii'S were mailc desti'ute, and 
scores of wealtliy men beeaiiie poor in 
an hour's time. l.ond l.uiMinijs 
burned; $15,000,000 destroyed; in- 
surance $3,500,000. Supplies of food 
and clothing poured rapidly in for the 
immediate wants of the iieople, and 
aid was liberally tenden-l by neieh- 
boring States and eili.s. This was 
the first of a series ..r .lisas'.rous tins 
which in a few years followed, sweep- 
ing from the face of the earth whole 
cities, villages, and large sections of 
timbered country. 

July 23. Tennessee Representatives and 
Senators admitted to Congress, by a 
resolution passing both Houses. 

July 24. File in Nashville, Tenn. Loss 
$1,000,000. 

July 27. Successful laying of the Atlan- 
tic cable. 

July 30. New Orleans massacre. 

Visit of Queen Emma, of the Sandwich 
Islands, to the United St.ates. 

Indians massacred 93 soldiers near Fort 

KeariKA-. Neb. 

Jlililaiy noMinment established in the 
ribellioiis States over the veto of the 
President. 

Tenure of Office bill pnssed by Congress, 
limiting the powers of the President to 
removal of ofiicials. 

Jan. 4. Congress passed the Confiscation 
and Amnesty bill. 

Jan. 11. A National Equal-Rights 
League Convention of colored men met 
at Washington and adopted an address 
to Congress '"'01 

Jan. 12. The New York Excise bill 
went into operation. 

A Daring Feat. 

The Konpariel, or American Life-Raft, 
with three men, crossed the Atlantic 
Ocean, from New York to Southampton. 
It was a fr.ail craft, 12i feet by 24, and 
was constructed by lashing three point- 
ed cylinders together and placing a 
flooring of canvas and boards upon it. 
It arrived safely, without leakage or 
damage of any sort. 

Jan. 18." Samud DoiDiing, thelast Revo- 
lutionary whlier, died in Edinhiirgh, 
N. r., u'jed 105. 

iV. F. Jl'ii/is. 
Jan. 30. Death of Nathaniel Parker Wil- 
lis, an American poet, essayist, and 
journalist of wide reputatiim. He was 
the author of about 30 volumes, besides 
doing constant editorial work, whch 
he laboriously prosecuted until the time 
of his death. 



Feb. 5. All Mexico, except the cities of 
Mexico, Puebla, Queretaro, and Vera 
Cruz, was in the hands of the Re- 
publicans, and Maximilian evacuated 
the City of Mexico and repaired to 
Queretaro. The Republicans, under 
Gen. Marquez, immediately occupied 
the city. 
Feb. 7. Mr. Peabody gave $3,100,000 

for education at the South. 
Feb. 17. Death of Dr. A. D. Bache, Chief 

of the Coast Survey. 
March 1. Nebraska made a State— the 

37th. 
March 3. Alaska was ceded to the 
United States in consideration of the 
sum of $7,200,000. 
April 26. Japanese Commissioners in 

Washington. 
May. By an Act of British Parliament 
the Canadian provinces of Ontario, 
CJuebec, New Brunswick, Prince Ed- 
wards Island, and Nova Scotia were 
federally united into one Dominion of 
Canada, 
Canada purchased the Territory belong- 
ing to the Hudson's Bay Co. 
May 13. Jeff. Davis hailed for $100,- 

000. 

May 15. Surrender of Maximilian and 

his army to the Republicans, brought 

about by the treachery of Lopez, the 

bosom friend of Maximilian, who, it 

was said, received the sum of $48,000 

as the price of his treason. 

June 13-14. Trial of Maximilian and his 

leadine (Hinrals, Miramon and Meja, 

all of whom were sentenced to be shot. 

June 10. Execution of Maximilian and 

his two leading officers. 
Negotiations opened for the settlement 

of the Alabama Claims 603 

July 1. ''New Dominion of Canada" 

liiaui^airated at Ottawa. 
July l"i. 'ieii. Juarez returned to the 
capital of .Mexico, after an absence of 
four years, during which he was 
constantly fighting in the defense of the 
Government. He was enthusiastically 
received by the RepuWicans. 
Aug. 12. President Johnson removed 
Mr. Stanton, as Secretary of War, and 
authorized Gen. Grant to act in hia 
place ad interim. 
Earthquake in Peru. 
Oct. 6. Juarez elected to the Presidency 

of Mexico. 
Y'ellow fever in New Orieans. 1,673 
dying from it in the month of Septem- 
ber. It was still more severe through- 
out Texas. 

Elias Howe. 
Oct. 13. Death of EUas Howe, inventor 
and patentee of the sewing-machine. 
Mr. Howe completed his first sewing- 
machine at Camlnidge, Mass., in 1835, 
through the aid of an old friend and 
school -fellow, George Fisher, who 
loaned him the money to complete hia 
work ; but receiving nothing but ridi- 
cule and censure from the incredulous 
croakers and selfish manufacturers, and 
without money to procure his patent, 
again his friend Fisher came to Lis 
rescue, and soon the machine was pat- 
ented. But it required a large sura to 
manufacture the machines and intro- 
duce them to the public, and his friend 
becoming discouraged, ceased to aid 
him further, and he abandoned the 



CHRONOLOGY. 



enterprise for a time. At last, througli 
the aid of liis father and brother, he 
took it to Enfjland, and there found a 
man — Mr. Wm. Thomas — who was 
willing to risk a sum sufficient to in- 
troduce the machine into his manufiic- 
turing establishment, but beyond this 
Mr. Howe could get no aid or encour- 
agement, and after suffering incredi- 
ble hardships, pawning his model and 
patent papers to procure the means to 
return home, he arrived in New York 
with a half-crown in his pocket— after 
an absence of two years — to learn that 
his wife was dying of consumption, 
lie bad not enough money to reach 
her, but after a few days' delay, he ar- 
rived in Cambridge just before her 
death. The vessel in which he had 
shipped his little effects in England 
was lost at sea, and it seemed that 
fate indeed was against him. But he 
soon learned that in his absence his 
mach'ne had become famous. In- 
genious mechanics had constructed its 
facsimiles, and which had been intro- 
duced into manufacturing establish- 
ments. Mr. Howe soon found friends 
and money to defend his riglits, which 
it took four years to fully establish. 
But his luck now all turned, and his 
annual revenue increased from $300 to 
$300,000, and on the 10th of Septem 
ber, 1867, his patent expired, when 
it was calculated he had realized about 
$2,000,000, besides the gold medal of 
the Paris Exposition, and the Cross of 
the Legion of Honor, as a compliment 
to his skill and accomplishment. Dur- 
ing the war, Mr. Howe enlisted and did 
scroice as a common, soldier, and used 
largely of his means to aid his country 
in prosecuting the war. 
Nov. 19. Death of Gen. Fitz Greene 

Halleck, at Guilford, Ct., aged 77. 
The Fourteenth Amendment ratified by a 

m.ijority of the States. 
Jan. 0. Death of Samuel Nicolson, in- 
ventor of Nicolson pavement, at Bos- 
ton, aged 76. 
Jan. 21. Senate transfers jurisdiction 
over the Southern States from Presi- 
dent Johnson to Gen. Grant. 
Feb. 24. House of Reijresentatives voted 

to impeach President Johnson 003 

May 19. Nomination of Gen. Grant for 
President at Chicago by the Soldiers" 
and Sailors' Convention. 
May 23. National Republican Conven 
tion met in Chicago and nominate < 
Gen. Grant for Prisident and SchuyUi 
Colfax for Vice-President; Grant poll 
ing 650 votes of the Convention. 

A7/ Carson. 

May 23. Brevet Biig.-6en. Christopher 
Carson, better known as "Kit Carson," 
a famous mountaineer, traf>])er, and 
guide, died trom a rupture of an ar- 
tery in the neck at St. Lynn, Col. He 
was better known to a large number of 
Indian tribes than any other white man. 
He was the guide and companion of 
John C. Fremont in his expedition to 
California, and in 1853 he drove 6,500 
sheep over the Rocky Mountains to 
California — a hazardous undertaking. 
He was several times in Washington 
on official business, and once with a 
delegation of Indians. 

The President censured by Congress for 
the removal of Gen. Sheridan from the 



Governorship of the Fifth Military 
District (Texas and Louisiana). 

James Buchanan. 
June 1. Death of James Buchanan, 15th 
President of the United States. Mr. 
Buchanan was an eminent lawyer in 
Pennsylvania for a period of 19 years, 
also a .Member of the State Legislature 
from 1814 to 1820, when hj was chosen 
a Member of Congress, and was re- 
elected fimr times. He was appointed 
l\linister to Russia by President Jack- 
son, but held the place only two years, 
,nnd on his return in 1833 was elected 
United States Senator, continuing in 
the Senate twelve years, where he was 
considered a leader of the Democracy. 
In 1845 he entered Mr. Polk's Cabinet 
as Secretary of State. He was a con- 
sistent pro-slavery advocate during all 
his public life. President Pierce ap- 
pointed liim Minister to the Court of 
St. James. In 1856 Mr. Buchanan was 
nominated for President by the Demo 
cratio party, and was elected over ex 
President Fillmore and Col. Fremont 
as opposing candidates. In his ad 
ministration he favored the South ir 
all points of difference, and claiming 
to be desirous of preventing a Revolu- 
tion ; yet he declared it to be out of 
his power to use coercion to prevent it. 

Mathew Vassar. 
June 23. Mathew Vassar, founder of 
Vassar College, died in PoughkeeiJsie, 
N. Y. He donated an aggregate of 
$800,000 for its cndownient, repair, 
and fumishing. He died very sud- 
denly while addressing the trustees at 
the anniversary of its opening. 

Daring Train Robbery. 
May 22. A daring robbery was perpe- 
trated on a night -express train, at 
Marshfiekl, Ind., a station about 31 
miles out from Jeffersonville. The en- 
gineer stopped the train to take water 
at 11:45 p.m., and while engaged in 
oiling the machinery, a party of five or 
six men stepped out from behind the 
Water-tank and knocked him down, 
one of them standing over him with a 
pistol, threatening to blow his brains 
out if he dared give the first alarm. 
Another of the party knocked the fire- 
man down and stood guard over him 
with a drawn weapon. The others 
])assed to the rear of the express car, 
uncoupled it from the passenger car, 
and mounting the engine, started up 
the road, leaving the passenger car 
and its unsuspecting occupants in 
lilissful ignorance of the cause of the 
delay. After running some distance 
up the road, the robbers entered tl 
express car, and with drawn revolvers 
seized the express messenger and 
threw him overboard. The gang then 
broke open the safes and robbed them 
of their contents — $90,000 in green- 
backs. By the time they had fully 
accomplished this work they had got 
nearly in sight of Seymour. Here they 
disembarked, leaving the car on the 
track. Had they selected the night 
previous for their raid, they would 
liave captured more than double the 
amount. 



Second Train Capture. 
July 10. Another attempt was made 1o 
rob an express train by members of 
the same gang, which was fortunately 
frustrated. From a gathejing of 
thieves at Seymour, it became csident 
tiiat anotlier rolibery was contemplated. 
James Flanders, an engineer of the 
Ohio and Mis issippi Railroad, was en- 
al)l( d to gain their confidence, and 
promised to stand in with them in 
ihcir robbery. He immediately in- 
formed tlie Express Company, and a 
guard of six men, armed to the teeth, 
were placed in charge of the treasure. 
When the attempt was m.ide, tin'V 
were warmW rceeiv. d, and the leader 
of the rolibers, Vol. Klli- < r !:ili"t. as 
hewascallul, was slinl in iIm slioiiMer 
and captured. If was alleruard Nam- 
ed that the wnuldlH- n.l.lKJS were Vol. 
Elliot, the leader; Jolm Al.iore, I'ruik 

ten, and Harry Jarrell. 'f- parks had a 
finger shot off, and Moore was wounded 
twice in the body. The robbers re- 
treated, and were hotly pursued to 
Rockford, Ind. Cros-ing the river, 
they gained sii;lit of (he robbers, and 
succeeded in (-aptiiriiig Charles Rose- 
bery and Philip Clilton ; tlic dmse 
thiekets prevented their capturing the 
others. These men were known to be 
members of the famous Keno gang, 
who had committed the first express 
robbery, and who had for years been 
the terror of that portion of Indiana, 
committing murders, highway rob- 
beries, and robbing trains, until their 
presence became unendurable. 

Indiana Vigilance Cotnmittee. 
To protect themselves against a re- 
curring of these outrages, the people 
of Seymour organized a Vigilance 
Committee. None but the members 
knew who actually belonged to it, but 
it was said that the most respectable 
and best men in the community were 
members. The order had its grips, 
signs, pass-words, and tokens of recog- 
nition, so that any member could in- 
stantly tell another by night or day 
without uttering a single word. Its 
motto was, " Law and Order, Peace and 
Protection, at all hazards." At least 
500 men were supposed to belong to 
the organiziiticm. < )n the 20th of July, 
by some means unknown to outsiders, 
the Vigilance Committee secured in- 
telligence that the three men, C^lifton, 
Rosebery, and Elliot, were to be taken 
by the officers to IBrownstown that 
night, and the committee, too impatient 
to await the course of law, determined 
to take the responsibility upon them- 
selves and mete out justice to the three 
villains as they saw tit. 

Lynch-Law. 
That night they quietly gathered at a 
spot about two miles west of Seymour. 
There was no noise or confusion about 
the gathering, and there was no ex- 
citement in the town. The train was 
signaled to slop, and when it had done 
so, was entered liy a number of men, 
■who demanded that the three prison- 
ers be given to them. The guards 
were slow to comply, but they could 



CHRONOLOGY. 



offer no effectual resistance, and tlic 
men were torn from tUem and taken 
out. TIk^ criiiiinals saw in the stern, 
ri-\Tii'_:[>l'iil f:f,-^ ,,r tlicir captors, the 
trnililr iiiipuri nl' I'lc inomeiit. In the 
iiiicUt III' till' .liiikncss, with scores of 
excilcl .inil iiii'iiili-s nun arniiKUhem, 
tlicy wiMT hurricl mvay, while the train 
was alloucil to move on, anil t;ikonafow 
fcft upananou lane. I Icrr their (loom 
was pronounird, anil a few minutes 
giventhcni to |iri')K'' _ ..i meet their fate. 
Few words |i:i-.srd liitween the crim- 
in ds and Ihiii- ixrniliuucrs. Words 
wiiiild do nil i;iHi.i, :iiid ndien all hope 
had ll.'il, thr iiiri}, with the exception 
of Cliltim, a>snniid :i dodged anil tle- 
terniiutd air, and neither made confes- 
sions nor asked for mercy. Clifton 
died like a coward. He fell on his 
knees and wept like a child, swore that 
he was innocriit "I' all riiini', and im- 
plond them to >:ivr his Ulr. Elliot, 
when asUnl to coiil'i ss and disclose the 
names <if those who were with him in 
the robbery, said, with a contemptu- 
ous sneer: " Confess hell! I'll tell you 
nothing. You've got me here — a 
thousand of you — now do your worst." 
Rosebery said nut a word. The mob 
was growini; ini[iatirnt, even at a mo- 
menl's deUiy, and clamored for their 
deatli. A large spreading beech tree 
was chosen by the committee, and 
while a score of hands were tying the 
prisoners' arms behind them, low, 
stont brandaes were found, and rough 
ropes were twisted quickly round the 
necks of the three men. All was in 
readiness, and as a howl of vengeance 
went up from the mob, Volney Elliot, 
Charles Rosebery, and Frelinghuysen 
Clifton will' swiui'^- into the air, and 
hum,' by thr link until tliey were dead. 
It is said Ihiv slrum,dcd greatly and 
died haul, 'liu- v. rdirt of lynch-law 
cxri-!iti'il, thr rriuMi qiiicklv dispersed, 
and Irfl tlir IiimII,.. Ii;,n,-in'.,'. At 11 
o'clock thr iiir.ui 1- luuiinlid to the 
spot, cut the bouies down, and held an 
inquest over them. The verdict simply 
was, that they came to their death 
from straniiulaliou at the hands of 
l>arties uukiinwn. After the very little 

elusion, the ivm;iins weivTiiviu to their 
relatives, and ^hnit'.y aftir luiried in 
rougli eollin^, in tic ^eyn^our t^emetcry. 
The men «Imi thus suffered death at 
th hands i>r :i;i iritr,ii;ed people were 
r.iiseil in Sevnnen, iind all had respcct- 

neiu'liliiii iioiid. Ilie\- all had oppor- 

ative avoea ions, but thev preferred to 
live in idleni-s, .,,,,1 to einnlate the CX- 
aiujile- of thei liino Brothers' family in 
acquiring by robberv wh it means were 
necessary for their support. 

Notice of the Vigilance Committee. 

On the morninif after the lynching 

of Elliot, Hosebcry, and Clifton, the 

foUiwing hand-bill was posted at 

Seymou'r : 



Attention, T/iieres 



ings of the 



'Seymour Vigilance Committee' last 
night. We are detertnined to follow 
this up until all of the classes above- 
named, whether imported or to the 
'manor born,' are driven from our 
midst. Threats have been made of re- 
taliatum in case we resort to capital 
puui.shment. In answer we say, should 
one of our committee be harmed, or a 
dollar's worth of proiierty of any honest 
man be destroyed by iiersmis unknown, 
we will swinu by the mek until they 
are dead i vei y thievini,' eliaraeter we 
can lay nur h.imls mi, without inquir- 
ing whetlur we li:ne the persons who 
committed ihe |i;irlieiihir crime or not. 
This apiilie- nut leily t'i Seymour, but 
along til- kiiie iif tlie two roads, .and 

and order inu^t |.ri ,:iil. By order of 
the Vi'.;ilai:ce ( 'ouimittee. Seymour, 
lud., July 31, ISUS." 

Second Execution. 
The work of the committee was still not 
accomplished. Frank Sparks, John 
Moore, and Ilenrv J'irrell were arrested 
at .Etna, I'.il.s Co., Ilk, iind were taken 
to Seymi.iii-, iimler -u.uM, 'the eniii- 
neer of the tr.iin leleL;ni|ilied to the 
Vigilance Cimimitteu at Seymour that 
the men were aboard the train. When 
the train arrived at Seymour, the 
robbers were taken and placed in a 
wagon, to be carried to Brownsville, 
Ind. When near the place where the 
others were so summarily executed, 
men suddenly arose from all sides, 
seemingly out from the ground, and 
were all well armed. Tlie priscmers 
were taken to the same tree on which 
the others were hung, and immediately 
executed. Moore was hung in sight of 
the house where he was born. The 
coroner's verdict, in this case, as in the 
others, was '' death caused by hanging 
by unknown parties." 

Tragedy at Neiv Albany — T/ie Reno 
Brothers. 

Another tragedy was enacted at New 
Albany, Ind., on Dec. 22. The cele- 
brated " Reno Brothers " (Simeon, 
Frank, and William) and Charles 
Anderson, who were engaged in the 
Express roliliery of May 22, and were 
the mo-t iiiitiimin robbers in the 
country, e-ciqud t i Canada, but were 
arrested, extradited, and taken to the 
New Albany jail. The Seymour 
Vigilance Committee, nearly 100 strong, 
■wearing red iiannel masques which 
completely concealed their features, 
arrived at New Albany, on the train 
from Jeffer-sonville, about 3 o'clock in 
the morning. They placed patro's 
along the streets and around the jail, 
aroused the guards in the sherifl's 
office, and tied them hand and foot. 
They next entered the sheriff's room, 
and in flie struL:-le wliieh ensued, he 
was knocked dmui and shot in the 
elbow. They secured the keys of the 
jail and cells, and took the prisoners 
out and hung them from the corners of 
the c rridois. The committee were not 
in the jail to ixeee i tive minutes, and 
immeiliatel\ lilt on the train. For 
years this gaiiLC had been a terror to 
the citizens of Jackson Co., and had, 



probably, been guilty of nearly all the 
burglaries and murders committed in 
that part of the State of late years. 
The most of the gang were young men 
from good families, near Seymour. 
William Reno protested his innocence 
to the last, and was confirmed by his 
brothers. Thus ended the scenes 
of swift and terrible vengeance meted 
out by an outraged community. 

There is no doubt hut the provocation 
was very great, and that these and 
other noted criminals had repeatedly 
escaped through the " technicalities of 
the law " in the hands of its manipu- 
lators. Yet the example and effect of 
lynchdaw is contagious and very de- 
moralizing in any community. And 
where law and order jjrevail, there is 
no reason why good citizens should 
turn criminals in order to punish crime. 
Neither will they do so. 

Br. Noit. 

Eliph.alet Nott, D.D., died at the age of 
'J2 years. He was President of Union 
College, Schenectady, N. Y. He was 
one of the last of those representative 
men who lived in the period of our 
cauiitry's infancy and purity. When 
A\ ashington, Jefferson, Monroe, and 
Adams were in the zenith of their 
grainleiir and usefulness in the civil 
history of the young Republic — when 
it was molded by men of great truth- 
fulness, earnestness, and simplicity, 
and a degree of loyalty to country and 
to principle which is so rare in these 
days of iiolitical intrigues and personal 
arabiiions — Dr. Nett reached his ma- 
jority, and was ordained as a miiiister 
of the Gospel when Washingbm was 
serving his second term as President 
of the" United States, and when the 
State of New York (to which he had 
emigrated from Connecticut) was "out 
West," and Schenectady was in the 
wilderness and upon the borders of 
civilization. Here, in this wild region. 
Dr. Nott, with his young wife, settled, 
having performed their wedding jour- 
ney from Connecticut on horseback. 
He remained here but ten years, when 
he was called to Albany to jjreach in 
one of the principal churches, and 
there he laid the foundation of his 
future usefulness and greatness, in his 
talented and eloquent sermons, and his 
manly and consistent character. He 
was but a little over 30 years old when 
he was elected President of Union 
College, and where he spent the re- 
mainder of his days in laboring to 
build up that grand old in.stitution in 
the days of its poverty and infancy ; 
not neglecting, however, his calling 
as a minister of the Gospel, and his 
duty to society and the worhl. He had 
the good fortune to be the inventor of 
a stove which gained great popu- 
larity — being the first stove patented 
which burned anthracite coal success- 
fully. It became a source of immense 
revenue to the Doctor, and in his old 
age he was enabled, by his princely en- 
dowments, to place Union College upon 
a firm and lasting foundation, and to 
reap the reward of a life devoted to 
usefulness and duty. 

July 4. The Pre-ident issued a full par- 
dim and amue-ty pi oelaiv ation. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



797 



July 23. Wyoming Territory organized. 

July 28. Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, 
issued a final proclamation tliat the 
Fourteenth Amendment to the Con- 
stitution of the United States had been 
adopted. 

Aug. 3. Death of Gen. Cliarlcs G. H.al- 
pine (Miles O'Reilly) at New York. 

Thaddms Stevens. 
Aug. 11. Death of Thaddcus Stevens, 
an American statesman and reformer. 
Mr. Stevens was a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College in 1814, when he be- 
came a school-teacher, and studied law 
through tlio intervals of his school 
hours and at night. He was admitted 
to the bar after many discouragements, 
and arose to eminence in his profes- 
sion. In 1838 he became an active 
politician, taking part with the Adams 
party. In 1836 he was a member of 
the Pennsylvania State Constitutional 
Convention, taking an active part in 
the discussions relative to framing the 
Constitution ; and he refused to sign 
the document because it restricted 
suffrage on account of color. He was 
a Member of the Pennsjlvania Legis- 
lature during the intense political ex- 
citement that followed the adoption 
of the Constitution. From 1838 to 
1848, Mr. Stevens took no especial 
part in politics, practicing his profes- 
sion the most of the time ; but in the 
last-named year he was elected to the 
Ihirty-second Congress, and ardently 
opposed the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise, the Fugitive Slave law, and 
the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In 1859 
Mr. Stevens was again returned to Con- 
gress, and continued there for seven 
terms, during the last of which he met 
his death. 

Great Earthquake and Tidal 
Wave. 

Aug. 10. Greatest earthquake and tidal 
wave ever known on the continent of 
America occurred on the coast of 
Ecuador and Peru, extending from 
Bolivia to Chili, and 100 miles inland. 
More than a score of cities and large 
towns were utterly destroyed, besides 
a great many small villages and settle- 
ments ; 32,000 lives and $300,000,000 
were lost. Tidal waves forty feet hij^h 
deluged the land, carrying ships in- 
land for half a mile, and leaving them 
perfectly wrecked. 

Sept. Spanish Revolution led to a rising 
of the friends of Cuban independence. 

Cornell Univernty, Ithaca, N. Y., opened 
for pupils of both sexes. This mag- 
nificent institution was built and 
endowed by the benevolence of Ezra 
Cornell. See biography. 

Earthquake. 

Oct. 21. Severe earthquake in Califor- 
nia, doing much damage to property 
in San Francisco and other j)laces. 
All business was suspended, and great 
excitement prevailed. The shock ex- 
tended over a great portion of the 
State. 

Revolution in Peru against President 
Prado. Prado resigns and embarks 
for Chili. July 28, Col. lialta pro- 
claimed President. 



Oct. 10. Manuel Carlos Cespedes issues 
an address to the Cubans, jjroclaiming 
the Rej)ublic and its separation from 
Spain. 

Oct. 20. First encounter between the 
Cubans and Spanish at Las Tumas. 

Nov. 3. Gen. Grant was elected Presi- 
dent and Schuyler Colfax Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

Dec. 14. House of Representatives de- 
nounces repudiation of the national 
debt. 

Franklin Pierce. 

Death of Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth 
President of the United States. His 
father was a Revolutionary soldier, and 
a stanch Democrat of tlie JctTcrsonian 
school. 

Franklin was bom in Hillsborough, 
, N. H., Nov. 23, 1804, and was a bright, 
handsome boy, beloved by all who 
knew him for his kind and amiable 
disposition. At the age of sixteen he 
entered Bowdoiu College, at Brunswick, 
Jle., where he became a general favor- 
ite. He ranked high as a student, and 
graduated at the age of twenty, when 
lie began the study of law with Judge 
Woodbury, a distinguished lawyer. 
Soon after his graduation at law he 
was elected to the State Legislature, 
and served four years. In 1833 he was 
elected to Congress, where he warmly 
advocated the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party, and was a strong sup- 
porter of the Administration, and a 
personal friend of President Jackson. 
In 1837 Mr. Pierce was chosen as 
United States Senator. It was just 
after Mr. Van Buren had entered upon 
Icis Administration, and he was the 
youngest member in the Senate. In 
1838 he removed to Concord, the capi- 
tal of his native State, and devoted 
himself to his profession. As a law- 
yer Mr. Pierce was always courteous 
and kind, and it is said "that he was 
never known to insult, browbeat, or at- 
tempt to terrify a witness. Upon the 
accession of Mr. Polk to the Presi- 
dency he appointed Mr. Pierce At- 
torney-General of the United States, 
which ofBce he declined, also the nom- 
ination for Governor of New Hamp- 
shire. 

When war with Mexico was declared 
Mr. Pierce received the appointment 
of Brigadier-General and repaired to 
Newport, R. I., where he embarked 
with a portion of hi.s troops for Mexico. 
He landed at a place called Virgara, 
and found no preparation for his ad- 
vance, which had been ordered. There 
were but five hundred wild, unbroken 
mules for h's use, and the remainder 
had to be caught on the open prairies 
and tamed to the bridle and harness. 
This was an arduous and difficult task, 
as the heat of the sun was so intense 
that the men could not be exposed be- 
tween the hours of 9 A.M. and 4 p.m. 
Yet with great exertion the wild ani- 
mals were caught and timed, and the 
march began July 14tli, through a 
wilderness infested with roving bands 
of guerrillas, who watched every chance 
to attack them from every height and 
possible ambuscade. The heat of the 
sun and the he ivy .s;indy roa<ls made 
their progress slow, but on the 7th ot 
August they reached the main body of 



the army under (ien. Scott at Puebla. 
He arrived with his company of 2,400 
men safely, without the loss of a single 
wagon, although his company had suf- 
fered quite severely from sickness 
caused bv the extreme heat. Gen. 
Pierce arrivr.l in time to take an act- 
ive 1 art in llic cl.i-in- scenes of the 
war. UlJ'iu Ins r. turn X.irtli he was 
warnil.v r.r, iv( d l.\ his liiciuls and the 
snp^Mii I- di ilir war measures. The 
(I. Ill II 1,1 ii>ures met his hearty 
;i|i|i: . .: Mill -!renuouslv advocated 
tlic ] 1,^111 >, ^l.n-c Law" Thi's en- 
deared llill, In ll,r Suulll. ;w :, •■ Vortll- 
ern man with Sen: In in |irinii|.lrs " was 
alwavsan cspninl t'lvorilc :it llu' Snuth. 
He was iiccor.lingly nominated, June 
13th, 18.')2, aa tlie candi<late of the 
Democratic party for the Presidency, 
and was elected with great unanimity. 
His Administration was a stormy one, 
and favored in every way the slave 
power. The "irrepressible conflict" 
grew mure viilrut and strong with 
eviiv IVi -li an. -> im <,f the slave power, 
until U\\ HI- diMcL'arilcd, and in the 
West, rn In nlirr< mob law ruled. The 
jjolls were taken possession of by an 
armed body of rutSans from Mis-ouri, 
and slavery was established upon the 
free soil of Kansas. Their legal enact- 
ments would have disgraced savages; 
yet President Pierce deemed it his duty 
to recognize this bogus Legislature 
and their enactments. But the citizens 
arose en ma»se and prot<!sted in a peace- 
able manner against such an invasion, 
and sent a petition to the General Gov- 
ernment for redress. The President 
in reply issued a proclamation declar- 
ing the Legislature of Kansas legiti- 
mate, and that its laws must be obeyed 
or the strong arm of the Government 
would be put forth to enforce them. 
This act entirely alienated the North 
from the President, and he became so 
unpopular that his quondam Southern 
Iriends also forsook him, and he re- 
tired to the jirivacy of his home, never 
more to be disturbed by political pref- 
erences or emoluments. He main- 
tained, however, his loyalty to the 
Democratic party, although he took no 
active part in politics. In social life, 
Mr. Pierce maintained his high reputa- 
tion as a kind and genial neighbor, a 
firm friend, and an amiable and accom- 
plished gentleman. 
Jan. The United States Senate refused 
to approve the act of the President in 
suspending the Secretary of State, Mr. 
Stanton. Upon this Gen. Grant re- 
signed the office, and President John- 
son immediately appointed Generiil 
Thomas in his place. The Senate 
declared the President had no au- 
thority to remove the Secretary of 
State, and Mr. Stanton refused to va- 
cate the office. Gen. Thomas was ar- 
rested, but was immediately released, 
as it was the President, and not Gen. 
Thomas, the Senate were fighting. . G03 

Impeachment Trial. 

Feb. Andrew Johnson, President of the 
United States, tried tor high crimes 
and misdemeanors; thirty-five M m- 
bers found him guilty, and nineteen not 
guilty ; he was acquitted. 

Feb. 0. Nolle prosequi ends prosecutiou 
against Jeff. Davis. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



Feb. 25. Passage of the, FlfleeiUh Amend- 
ment 1)111 enlVanchisiug the colored 
man. 

March 4. Inaugiiratioa of Gen. Grant as 
President. 

Maich 16. Amenilment bill presented 
by Mr. Julian, of Ind., wliicli provided 
for woman suffrage, but which failed 
to come hfore the House. 

James Harper. 

March 27. Death of James Harper, an 
American publisher. He was for more 
than 50 years the head of the publish- 
ing house of Harper Bros. 

The Supreme Court pronoimeed Confed- 
erate nionev tn W worthless. 

April. .1 r..,:.\,lu>ut .U.r,nhhi ,n:,-hi]m,:d 



hiir 



rut ; 



of slavery, and the introchiction of 
freedom of religion were among the 
measures decreed by the Assembly. 
The war was carried on on lioth sides 
— particularly tliat of the Spaniards— 
with great severity. 

Pacific Railroad Completed. 
May 10. The grand event of the 10th 
century. The completion of the great 
Pacific Railroad— the length of which 
is, exclusive of branches, over 2,000 
miles, and crossing nine distinct 
mountain ranges, wliich were tunneled 
in several phices ; also, many wonder- 
ful bridges were built, spanning chasms 
of fearful and precipitous depth. This 
great enterprise was begun in 18(53 
and completed in 1809. It was 
built by two separate comp.anies; the 
eastern portion by the Union Pa- 
cific Co., which built the road to Og- 
den, iwd the we,^tern part by the Cen- 
tral Pacific Co., which built it from 
San Francisco to that point. As the 
distance between them grew shorter, 
the cnmpetition and excitement grew 
inure intense. About 35,000 men and 
(i,i)(iO teams were emi)loyed along the 
route, and as they neared the point of 
junction every nerve was stretched, 
"and the excitement almost equ ded in 
intensity a race between continental 
giants. The eyes of the whole conti- 
nent were lixil upon them, and their 
dailv i.n-jr.ss w :.s r. i.urtrd over tlie 



of anxious listeners were waiting at 
e:ich end of the route for the s-ijjnal 
when the la-t blow should be struck. 
There they stond, and co ild the won- 
derful telephone have had a develop- 
ment sufiicient to have reverberated | 
the sounds of the falling hammer, the 1 
picture would have been complete. 
But in their ignorance of this amazing 
and su' 'Sequent stride of science, they 
attached the wires to the last rail, 
that each blow of the sledge should 
be recorded on every connecting tele- 
graph instrument between San Fran- 
cisco and Portland, Me. Indeed, from 
Boston to New Orleans the wires were 
held in readiness to receive not only 
the message " done,'' but tlie very echo 
or vibration from the falling hammer. 
In San Francisco, a telegraph wire 
was attached to a fifteen-inch gun, also 
to all the flre-bells in the city, which 



were rung simultaneously with the 
firing of the gun by electricity. All 
business in the city was suspended, 
and all classes united in a grand cele- 
bration. All over the State of Califor- 
nia the excitement was at fever heat. 
In New York and "Wnshinu'ton the in- 
terest was intense. (";ir;r.jn rrlelirated 
the event on a ni:ii::-ilM > iii -i:,l.-; the 
procession was verv uni'iur, :in<l was 
over lour miles li.iiu 'Hie icid from 
Omalei t.. S;in I'l ;Miei>,e ,',kI SI r,.-|,OllO,- 
OOii, and re(|uiMMl lln.nim |,,iis cf iron 
rails, 1,111111,01111 li,h ],licles, ■2.(100,000 
bolts, l,"),iiO(i,0();i -pikes, :i,.")(HI, (100 cross- 
ties, l.cside^ millions (if fe.t c.f timber 
init estimated, lor the construction of 
bridges, culvert^, and roads. By means 
(if this wonderful highway the distance 
irura New York to San Francisco was 
reduced to seven days' travel ; from 
New York to Japan 25 days. 

Great Coal Mine Disaster. 
Avondale Coal Mine disaster in Pennsyl- 
vania. A fire broke out in the fur- 
nace, and the shaft was consumed— 
the 15re extending to the mines ; more 
than 100 men were suffocated before help 
could reach them. 

Great Peace Jubilee. 
June 1.5-20. A peace jubilee and musical 
festival was held in Boston in honor 
of the restoration of the Union of the 
States. There were 10,000 singers, 
.and an orchestra of 1,000 instruments, 
.and tens of tliousamls of spectators. 
It was held in the rnH.wum, an im- 
mense lidiMiu" ereet(al for the pur- 
pose, and was conducted by Prof. P. S. 
Gilmore. 

Grant Favors Labor. 

Eight-hour system with ten hours pay 
for Government employes ordered by 
President Grant. 

Colored PenpWs Convention in Washing- 
ton, Frederick Douglas presiding, pro- 
nodnced against emigration to Liberia. 

June 18. Death of Henry J. Raymond, 
founder and editor of the JSfew York 
Times, in New York city, aged 49 
years. 

Ju'ly 4. National Democratic Convention 
met in New York, nominating Sey- 
mour and Blair. 

July 11. Irish National BepuhKcan Con- 
vention held in Chicago, adopting a 
resolution requesting Congress to pass 
a law for the naturalization of foreign 
crs af'er one year's residence in the 

Jiilv ■,'!. Freneli Transatlantic cable laid 
ill the r.av of Mincm, near Brest, reach- 

Auii:, y.iHi'inil Ijiihor Convention met in 
Pliiladelpliia, re-alfirming the eight- 
hinir system. 

Aus. 7. 'Total eclipse of the sun. 

Temperance and Prohibition Convention 
met in Chicago. 

William Pitt Fcssendeti. 
Sept. 8. Death of Wm. Pitt Fessenden, 
LL.D , an American statesman. Senator, 
and financier. In politics, Mr. Fessen- 
den was a Whig. In 1839 he was 
elected to the State Legislature. In 



1840 he was elected to Congress. la 
1843 he declined a renomination, and 
returned to his profession. In 1843 ho 
was Kgain elected to fill a vacancy in the 
Senate ; two years following he served 
in the Legislature, and in 1845 he re 
ccived the votes of his party in the 
Legislature for a seat in the U. S. 
Senate. In 1854 he again entered the 
U. S. Senate, and made the most 
eloquent and efifective speeches ever 
made against the Nebraska bill, and 
this made him a leading man of the 
Senate. In 1859 he returned to the 
Senate for six years. Throughout the 
war, Mr. Fessenden was a firm ally of 
the Union cause, and as Chairman of 
the Finance Committee, he aided the 
Secretary of the Tnasiiiy in maintain- 
ing the National eri'lit. Upon the 
resignation of Mr, Chase from the 
office of Seeretarv of (he Treasury, he 
was appointed in hi- iikec, which was 
the most iinpoituiit ■ ne in the Cabinet, 
and the re-pniivil .ililie-; of which he 
fil!,.,l to the e: tin- sati-fac'tion of the 

people an. 1 thev.llvaliellefthe COUUtry. 

tie was ai,'ain re-elei-teil to the Senate 
for six years. Mr. Fessenden voted 
asiainst the impeachment of President 
Johnson, which made him unpopular 
for a while, but which soon wore off, 
consiileiint,' his consistency and great 
uselulness. Mr. Fessenden's character 
stood hi.udi in the nation, at home, and 
abroad. 
Sept. G. Death of Gen. John A. Rawlins, 
Secretary of War, at Washington, aged 

Sept. Destructive flood in Virginia ; 
forty lives lost at Harper's Ferry. 
Richmond was overflowed, and ferry- 
boats instead of horse-cars were used 
in the streets. The loss in property in 
the State amounted to miUions. 

Black Friday. 

Sejjt. 24. The terrible Wall Street Panic. 
A memorable dav in New York. The 

panii- was ).roduceil by the gamblers 

(if W all Street, controlled by the Fisk- 
Gould ring, who produced a "corner" 
on gold, selling in short sums until 
about $15,000,000 were thrown upon 
the market, when the " gambling " be- 
gan. The railroad stock gamblers had 
tor weeks bicn playing a desperate 
game, and the excitement becoming 
intense, the great gold " manipulators " 
of Wall Street began their raid. They 
ran up the price of gold from 187| to 
106. The '• bulls " went into the fight 
determined to win if they ran gold up 
to 200, but at 160 they collapsed. The 
Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. B(nit- 
well, with the advice and by order of 
the I'nsideiit, sold ?;4,lt00,000 of gold 
on the street. This broke up the " cor- 
ner, " and saved hundreds from ruin. 
The Fisk-tJould ring, designing to 
cimtrol the market, had implored the 
Secretary to loan them a large amount, 
but the Government preferred to place 
the gold in the market. The total 
depreciation in stocks and gold, for 
the week ending October 1st, amounted 
to $100,000,000. 

The Gold-room presented a scene of 
the wildest excitement. Money was 
loaned at 500 per cent, per annum. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



799 



1SG9. Wlicn the bids reached 155, men 
shrieked and raved like wild beasts. 
The room was filled with curses, and 
men rushed about in paroxysms of fury. 
Speyer, a large operator, became crazed, 
and raved like a madman, and was 
taken home by his friends. The Stock 
E.\change was deserted, all rushing to 
the Goid-room to witness the death 
struggles of the " bulls.'' The scene 
outrivaled any low gambling den — men 
at a " prize-fight " do not so utterly 
forget themselves and their humanity, 
as did these great Wall Street brokers. 
They were more like a pack of fam- 
ished wolves coming suddenly upon 
fresh blood. Outside the excitement 
was almost as intense. New Street was 
packed, and all travel was shut out ; 
all were watching with strained eyes 
the dial that marked the fluctuations 
of the Gold-room. The struggle to 
reach the Gold-room was worse than a 
scene at a lar.i^e fire ; men were push- 
ing and jamming to get out, and fight- 
ing to get in. Fisk and Gould left 
the streets, and could not be found. 
Men were everywhere threatening the 
life of Fisk. The bankere and brokers 
sent 2,232 messages over their wires 
on that day, and tlie other lines were 
in proportion burdened with the ex- 
citing dispatches. All confidence was 
destroyed in the markets and in trade. 
Millionaires were hourly becoming 
beggars, and mushroom operators sud- 
denly found themselves worth millions 
less than Tiothing. Wholesale dry-goods 
houses refused to sell goods, as they 
could not determine the prices to place 
upon them. 

Explosion at India napolis. 

" Oct. 1. Bursting of a portable engine on 
the fair-ground in the city of Ind 
apolis. 15,000 persons on the ground ; 
between twenty and thirty killed, and 
over fifty injured. 

'' Oct. 14. A terrible hurricane swept over 
Cuba — the most severe in the present 
century ; immense damage was done 
to property, and about 2,000 lives were 
lost. 

George Peabody. 

" Nov. 4. Death of George Peabody, the 
eminent and loved benefactor of Eu- 
rope and America. Mr. Peabody was 
born in 1795 at Dan vers, Mass. He 
served as a grocery clerk from 11 to 
15 years of age, when he went into the 
dry- goods store of his iMvithcr in 
Newburyport. At the aere of twenty 
he became a partner of Mr. Elisha 
Riggs, in a large dry-goods house in 
Baltimore — -Mr. Riggs furnishing capi- 
tal, and young Peabody the business 
ability. The house rapidly increased 
in business, and established branch 
houses in New York and Philadelphia. 
In 1829 Mr. Peabody became tlie head 
of the house- — Mr Kiggs retiring. In 
1837 he settled in London, and four 
years after he withdrew from the firm 
and established a bank in London, 
which soon became the headquarters 
for American news intelligence and 
acquaintance. In 1852 Mr. Peabody 
sent a present of |20,000 to his native 
town of Danvers to be disbursed in 
founding a library, an institute, and a 
lyceum, which he subsequently en- 



dowed to the extent of several hun- 
dred thousand. To the Grinnell Ex- 
pedition to the North Pole he gave 
$10,000. In 1857 Mr. Peabody gave 
the uiagnificcnt sum of $300,000, as 
the first installment of $500,000, for 
the establishment of an institute to 
promote literature, science, and the 
arts in Baltimore. Later, he gave 
$500,000 for the promotion of educa- 
tion in the South, and which he after- 
waril increased by several endow- 
ments, making his public benefactions 
in America reach above $1,000,000. 
But his most worthy and princely gifts 
were to the poor of London. As an 
experiment he invested the sum of 
$1,250,000 to aid the industrious poor, 
lie therefore erected four great build- 
ings called by his name, in the poorest 
quarters of London. He reduced the 
rent to within their reach, but required 
them to keep them clean — a require- 
ment which many of the tenants who 
had lived in squalor all their days 
considered too great a tax. The en- 
terprise did not seem to meet with the 
success which the benefactor wished. 
A part of this fund was reserved to re- 
lieve tenants in deserving instances. 
Mr. Peabody made his last visit to this 
country on "the 9th of Juue preceding 
his death. The American sculptor 
Story made a noble statue of him 
which was erected in London at the 
expense of that city, and upon his 
death Queen Victoria fitted out a ship 
— which was joined by vessels from the 
American squadron in the Mediter- 
ranean Sea — to bear his remains back 
to his native land, where they repose 
among the honored and hallowed of 
our country's great and noble bene- 
factors. 
Nov. 11. Death of Robert J. Walker, 
statesman and publicist, at Washing- 
ton, aged OS. 

Albert D. Richardso)i. 
Nov. 25. Assassination of Albert P. 
Richardson, the well-known author 
and journalist. He was shot in the 
New York Trilnme counting-room by 
Daniel McFarland, upon the alleged 
intimacy of Richardson with Mrs. 
McFarland, who had recently been di- 
vorced from him. Mr. Richardson died 
on the morning of Dec. 2. In March, 
18(J7, McFarland had attempted to take 
the life of Mr. Richardson, who was 
escorting Mrs. McFarland home from 
the Winter Garden Theater, where she 
was employed as an actress. Mrs. Mc- 
Farland had separated from her hus- 
band upon alleged cruelty and failure 
to support her and her children. The 
situation in the theater had been pro- 
cured for her by Mr. Sydney Howard 
(iay, managing editor of the New York 
Tiihuiie, through the intercession of 
Mrs. Sinclair, wife of the publisher of 
that paper, and also of Jlr. Richardson, 
who was a correspondent of the Trih- 
ttne. Mrs. McFarland was a woman 
of fine liter.ary talents and a splendid 
reader. She had many influential 
friends, and among them several of 
the Tribune staff', who were interested 
in her welfare. She was always es- 
corted home from the theater by some 
one of her friends, and on this partic- 
ular evening Mr. Browne and Miss Gil- 



bert had engaged to see her home, but 
finding he could not fulfill his engage- 
ment, Mr. Browne requested Jlr. Rich- 
ardson to call at the theater and ac- 
company her to her home. It was a 
stormy night, and Mr. McFarland had 
watched her, and crept up behind 
Richardson and shot him in the back. 
He fired four shots, but one of which 
took eff'ect. Mr. Richardson grasped 
and held him until a policeman arrest- 
ed him. The wound was not fatal, 
and Mr. Richardson was confined to 
his room but one week. Mr. McFar- 
land claimed that Mr. Richardson had 
alienated the affections of his wife 
from him — that there had been a crim- 
inal intimacy between them ; that a 
fraudulent divorce had been obtained 
tiirough Mr. Richardson's eflTorts, and 
tliat an elopement and marriage had 
taken place; all of which was openly 
denied by Mr. Richardson and Mrs. 
McFarland and her friends. Upon 
the trial, it was abundantly proved by 
the most respectable and reliable wit- 
nesses that every one of these charges 
were false ; and that not until Mrs. 
McFarland had formally parted from 
her husband, and was dependent upon 
the sympathy and aid of her friends 
for protection and influence in procur- 
ing a support for herself and children, 
did Mr. Richardson show her any at- 
tention beyond which any bigb-mind- 
ed and generous gentleman would be- 
stow upon a lady needing sympathy 
and aid. It was also abundantly 
proved that Mr. McFarland was a va- 
grant — a man of dissolute habits, 
of a hasty and violent temper, ovcr- 
beaiing and exacting, and that he had 
utterly neglected his family and re- 
fused to support them. It was also 
proven that Mrs. McFarland was a 
woman of modest and retiring man- 
ners, patient and forbearing, indus- 
trious and studious in her habits, and 
was much beloved by a large circle of 
friends; that for many years she had 
borne in silence his aliusc, which, when 
he was under the influence of liquor, 
was of a desperate and dangerous nat- 
ure. McFarland was tried for the 
murder of Mr. Richardson in New 
Y'ork, and was nejuitted upon the plea 
of insanity. 
National Woman''s Suffrage Convention, 

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher presiding. 
Convention in Memphis, Tenn., to dis- 
cuss the Coolie question. 
Dec. 10. National Colored Labor Conven- 
tion, which sent a delegation congratu- 
lating President Grant, and offering 
him the support of all colored laborers, 
because he had opened the gates of the 
navy yard, and other departmeuts of 
skilled labor, to their race. 
Babcock fire extinguisher first patented 

in the United States. 
10,oOO Protestants in the Argentine Re- 
public. 
The cinsus makes the value of the 
United States $31,000,000,000. 

Edunn M. Stanton. 

Dec. 1 4. Death of Edwin M. Stanton, 
LL.D., statesman and Cabinet officer.. 
Jlr. Stanton was born in Steubenville,. 
O., Dec. 24, 1815, and graduated at 
Keuyon Colieg>', O , in ls33. He grad- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



imtcd at law in the office of Judge 
Tapjjan, an eminent jurist of Ohio, and 
began practice in Cadiz, O., in 1830, 
and in 1839 he became a partner with 
the Judge. In 1843 he was elected re- 
porter of the decisions of the Supreme 
Court of Ohio, and prepared the vol- 
umes for the press. 

In 1860 Jlr. Stanton was appointed 
to his first position as a Government 
officer. He received the appointment 
of Attorney-General from President 
Buchanan, as successor of Judge Black. 
January 11, 1862, President Lincoln 
chose Mr. Stanton for Secretary of 
War. His able and unceasing labors 
in this department through the war 
are too well known to require a de- 
tailed account. His duties and obliga- 
tions were more arduous than were those 
of any other member of the Cabinet, 
the " weight of the war" resting upon 
his shoulders. Under President John- 
son hi-* stanch fidelity to the interests 
of the Union, and his uncompromising 
adherence to the principles of loyalty, 
and to the vigorous prosecution of tlie 
war, caused him to be feared by the 
President and hated by the enemies of 
the Government, both North and South. 
Mr. Johnson sought in every way to 
force his resignation, which Mr. Stan- 
ton as stoutly resisted. Finally, in 
August, 1807, the President superseded 
liim, placing Gen. Grant in his seat, 
cul interim. But Mr. Stanton refused 
to vacate, holding his seat through the 
impeachment trial of the President, 
but resigning upon the failure of the 
jury to find him guilty. 

He now sought rest and the restora- 
tion of his health, which had been 
greatly impaired by his incessant and 
herculean labors. In December, 1869, 
President Grant nominated him for 
Assistant Justice of the Supreme 
Court, in the place of Judge Grier, re- 
signed; but Mr. Stanton died before 
his commission was made out, and 
died a poor man, not leaving a sufficient 
support for Ids family. Congress voted 
a year's salary as Justice of the Su- 
preme Court to be paid to his family, 
and the friends of Mr. Stanton through- 
out the country made up a memorial 
fund and presented to them. Mr. Stan- 
ton made some enemies by his arbi- 
trary manner, which was greatly ag- 
gravated by the perplexing and re- 
sponsible position which he held as Sec- 
retary of War through the great Re- 
belli(m ; but his loyalty to the Govern- 
ment, and his strict integrity of char- 
acter as without a blemish ; his 
great ability as a statesman was never 
questioned. 
Schenck's bill, requiring all national ob- 
ligations to be paid in coi 



Terrible Explosion. 
Dec. 16. Explosion of 3,000 pounds of 
gunpowder, 500 pounds of compound, 
and 3,000 pounds of nitro-glycerine at 
once in a torpedo factory at Titusville 
Pa. This terrible explosion took place 
about one mile from the center of the 
town, and shook the whole city. For 
100 yards in every direction the earth 
was torn up as in a newly-plowed 
field ; trees one foot in diameter were 
cut off and toru into fragments ; heavy 



logs were hurled through the air and 
over the tree tops a distance of one- 
ciijlith of a mile; doors nnd windows 
fully olir-iou.tb ..r :i .,p1.' :i.^^lV wrre 
driven ill ;ii,<l l.r,.kr,, 1- li',^ r- ; ani- 
mals and fowls wnv l,i;j l.l.ni'd and 
fled in every direction ; uieu were 
stunned by the shock ; and not a build- 
ing in the city but felt the effects of the 
terrible concussion. 'fliere was but 
one man inor i.l.oiit tlir l.ir Miiiixs, and 
ho was litcr.-illv M-uh inin lr:miii.-nts. 
The effect ii|ioii ihr |hm|.v .-.iM build- 
ings in till' viriiiifN V, :i- iirrcisrly 
likr fiiat jiro.hirr,! hv an carflMiuake. 
3/<v.v I'.nr.ir. C.h.ni.h: ,ri>l.u'i,„i ,ri„,li- 
iioi, s!„rtnl ui,l. Til.' rxi.e.lition was 
organized at Normal, 111., by Major 
Powell, of the Normal University. 



Cuban Insurrection. 

Insurrection in Cuba. The insurgents 
desired to have the independence of 
Cuba recognized liy lln- United States, 
but the Governivieiit (l.c'inel, and 
maintained an attitmle of ik utrality, 
except that she endeavored to negoti 
ate v/ith Spain in reference to settle- 
ment of the Cuban troubles favorable 
to Cuba. 

Fifteenth Amendment, giving the ballot 
to the colored man, became a part of 
the Constitution. 



Geo. D Prentice. 

Jan. 22. Death of Geo.Dennison Prentice, 
an American journalist of considerable 
note, and of much publicity in the 
West. He became the editor-in-chief 
of the LoidsviUe Journal in 1831, and 
under his charge it rose to be the lead- 
ing journal of the West. As a writer, 
Mr. Prentice was graceful in style, 
spicy in humor, and sarcastic and 
severe in criticism. When the South 
began the secession movement, Mr. 
Prentice stoutly opposed the efforts to 
drag the State of Kentucky into the 
vortex, and it was largely due to the 
unceasing fidelity of that journal that 
they did not succeed. Being embar- 
rassed in linanees during the war, the 
eonlrulliiiL;- inlliienei' of the paper 
jiasseil into other liamls, who were less 
rigorous in maintaining the Union, and 
for a short time he withdrew from the 
editorial charge. The loss of a son 
who fell in battle in the Southern 
army, and other afflictions and trials, 
rendered his declining years sad and 
sorrowful. BIr. Prentice was also a 
poet of no mean ability, and althougl 
he never ]inMishe<l his jioeuis in book 
form, "tliev still live." lb was also a 
contributor to Unrp.r-^ Mmilhhj. He 
was a bitter opponent, I)ut a warm and 
generous friend. 

Wesley Harper. 

Feb. 14. Death of Wesley Harper, of 
the firm of Harper & Bros. Wesley 
was the literary correspondent of the 
firm, ami dniiuL': the forty years in 
whichliee(.ndiiet.(l t he correspondence, 
it was sai.l of him that he never for- 
got to be courteous or considerate of 
the feelings of others, and that he had 
not an enemy among the thousands 
wdth whom he corresponded. He died 



as he had lived, : 
with all men. 



:diarity and peace 



Anson Burlingame. 
Feb 33. Anson Burliugame, an Amer- 
ican statesman and diplomatist, died in 



liV, an.l 



1 Powers troni 1«0T to 
ilingame was educated 
itv of Michigan, and in 
r,:nv-'5(dinoi: He was a 
e ::|th. :;.-.th, an.l 30lh 

Hi, -e:,lhilrj- r.l.ukc of 

oks lor his as,-,ult upon 



reiehiim- ( liftoii, Canada— the spot 
i!( -i'^n.iled liy Mr, llnrlingame. Mr. 
lliiiliMLianie ilied in the midst of his 
j)ol)\ilaritv, and just before he had 
completed the greatest diplomatic 
work ever assigned an American Min- 
ister. 

Battle of the Blondes. 
Feb. 24. Horse-whipping of Willnir F. 
Storey, editor of the Chicago Times, 
for alleged slander, by Lydia Thomp- 
son andMiss Markham, olthe " I'donde 
Burlesque Troujie." d'li.se ladies, in 
company with j\lr. JIarkham, business 
manager for the troupe, and several 
others, met Mr. Storey iu front of his 
residence on Wabash Avenue, and in- 
flicted some twenty lashes upon his 
head and person with a rawhide. Mr. 
Storey stoutly resisted, and the whole 
assaulting party were t!iken before the 
Armory police court on a charge of dis- 
orderly conduct, and were tried and 
fined $100 eacli. 

General Thomas. 
March 28. Death of Geo. Henry Thomas, 
Maj.-Gen. of the U. S. A., one of the 
ablest and most suecessrul of tlie mili- 
tary chiefs of the ei\il war. General 
Thomas was born .ami raised in Vir- 
ginia, and belonged to the F. F. V.'s. 
He was educated at West Point. Vet, 
when Sumter was fired upon, he de- 
clared for his country, and the day the 
flag was lowered from the walls of Fort 
Sumter, he reported for duty at Car- 
lisle barracks, Pa,, and in May he led a 
brigade into Maryland, from Chambers- 
burg to Williamsport, and on Juno 
16 he crossed the Potomac in full uni- 
form, to invade Virginia, and fight his 
old commanders, who had turned 
traitors to the Government he loved 
and cherished. All through the long 
and Idnody strif ■, Gen, Thomas was in 
the ticld, an active, laitht'ul, and effect- 
ive (.|li.-er, i)e\er tlineliing from duty, 
never lieira\ing discouragement. Or a 
lack of those high and moral principles 
which engaged his invaluable services 
iu defense of his countr3''s life and 
honor. In private life, Gen. Thomas' 
reputation was without a stain, and he 
died in the enjoyment of his country's 
confidence, admiration, and gratitude. 

Mrs. Willard. 

April 15. Jlrs. Emma Hart Willard 

died in Troy, N. Y. She was an edu- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



801 



1870. cator and author, and the pionoor in tlio 
higher education of women in this 
country. She was next to the youngest 
in a family of 17 children, and per- 
formed her allotted share of the domes- 
tic duties of the family, while prosecut- 
ing, with a wonderful energy, the 
studies which presented themselves to 
her; mastering astronomy in her 14th 
year, studying it chiefly by moonlight 
on the horse-block in front of tlie 
door. She had two years' study in the 
village academy, and then engageil as 
teacUer in the district school, wliere 
she became noted as a proficient teach- 
er. Her marriage to Dr. .John Willard 
interrupted, for some time, her calling 
as a teacher. In 1814, financial re- 
verses, however, induced her to open 
a boarding-school for girls in Middle- 
bury. Her school prospered, and licr 
sphere enlarged, for which she qualified 
herself by hard study at nights, 
mastering the advanced sciences, 
which, one by one, she introduced 
into her school. But feeling the need 
of enlarged privileges, slic Laid her 
desires and plans before Gov. Clinton, 
who gave the movement a warm sup- 
port, and in 1819 she opened her 
school in Waterford In 1820 the 
citizens of Troy offered her a building 
if she would remove her school to that 
city. She accejited it, and in 1821 
opened her subsequently famous Sem- 
inary there. In 1825 her husband 
died, and the entire charge of the in- 
stitution rested upon her. She con- 
tinued to successfully manage the 
school till 1838, when her son and his 
wife relieved her of further eiire. .\fter 
her retirement she bceanie mimIi inter- 
ested in common seliuoU, aitM I, ill. .red 
for their elevation. In l"..l ii-' iiilnul- 
ed the World's Editoriall ...i-n ss in 
London. She published succLssively a 
series of geographies and atlases, a 
history of the United States, and 
many other important historical and 
miscellaneous works of much value. 
She was a woman who lived and moved 
a generation, at least, in advance of her 
age, and her wonderful achievements 
in behalf of a higher life and educa- 
tion for woman will attach her name 
to the list of the world's great movers 
and benefactors. 
" May 4. Death of Zcrah Colhurn, the 
great locomotive engineer, manufac- 
turer, and editor. He was nephew and 
namesake of the celebrated mathema- 
tician of New England. Jlr. Coll)urn, 
through overwork of brain and mental 
depression, became perfectly insane, 
and while in one of his fits, he strayed 
away from his friends, and died by his 
own hand. 
" Julv 13. Admiral Daldgren, of the 
United States Navy, died in Washing- 
ton from a gun-shot wound received in 
action. He w.as the inventor of the 
celebrated gun bearing his name, also 
of a smaller rifled cannon. He was a 
brave and cfiicient oflScer, and a digni- 
fied and courteous gentleman. His 
death was a great loss to the nation. 

The Nathan Murder. 
" July 28. Murder of Benjamin Nathan, a 
wealthy and influential meml)cr of tin' 
Stock Exchange, an.l brotlier-iii-law 



of Judge Cardozo, in his own bed- 
chamber in his elegant brown-stone 
mansion near Fifth Avenue, New York. 
His two sons and two daughters, a 
man and a woman-servant were in the 
house at the time — the woman-servant 
sleeping in a room adjoining Mr. 
Nathan's room — and not an inmate of 
the house was disturbed. The win- 
dows of his room were open toward 
tlie street, and the hackmen opposite, 
and the clerks and watch at the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel never heard a 
sound. A policeman wa? stationed 
at the corner, but a few rods from the 
hi)U>:e, yet he had no knowledge of any 
irregular acts or deeds of violence be- 
ing committed in the neighborhood. 
Yet the appearance of the body and 
the room indicated a terrible struggle 
between Mr. Nathan and his mur- 
derers. His body was covered with 
blond, and nine distinct and fearful 
gashes and bruises were found upon 
ills head and face. The ceiling, door- 
posts, and the carpet around the body 
were covered and soaked with lilood. 
The safe in the room adjoining had 
been opened, and the contents were 
scattered about the room. Two gold 
watches were takeu, and the diamond 
s^tuds were torn from his shirt bosom. 
Mr. Nathan was a native of the United 
States, and was 59 years of age. The 
greatest excitement prevailed, and the 
utmost vigilance and perseverance 
were used by the police and detective 
officers, yet no clew or suspicion of the 
crime could be attached to any indi- 
vidual. A reward of $30,000 was 
offered by the Mayor of the city for 
the arrest and conviction of the person 
or persons who committed the murder, 
and the following rewards for the re- 
covery of property taken: $1,000 re- 
ward was offered for the identification 
and recovery of each and every one of 
the diamond studs; $1,500 for the 
identification and recovery of a fine 
gokl watch or the chain and seals at- 
tached ; $300 for information leading 
to the recovery of an old-tashioned gold 
watch ; $300 for the recovery of a gold 
medal, the size of a silver dollar, and 
$100 for a full and detailed description 
of this medal ; $1,000 for the identifi- 
cation of the instrument used in the 
commission of the deed, and which 
was found lying in the vestibule be- 
tween the inner and outside door lead- 
ing to the street. It was a piece of 
wrought-iron, IG inches in length, and 
turned up at each end, and sharp. It 
is known as a " dog," and is used by 
ship-carpenters and other mechanics. 
Also, $800 were ofi'ered to the man 
who, on the night of the murder, was 
seen to ascend the steps of Mr. Nathan's 
house and pick up a piece of paper 
and walk away with it, if he would 
come and return the paper. The pay- 
ment of these rewards was guaranteed 
by Mrs. Emily Nathan, the widow of 
the murdered man. In additi(m to 
these rewards, the sum of $10,000 was 
offered by the Stock Exchange for the 
arrest and conviction of the assassin. 
Washington Nathan, the second son 
of 5Ir. Nathan, was closely watched 
and strictly examined for a season, but 
no evidence leading to a reasonable 
susj)icion of his guilt was found. The 



coroner's verdict was rendered in the 
following language : " That Benjamin 
Nathan came to his death by wounds 
inflicted upon his head by an instru- 
ment known as a ' dog ' in the hands 
of a person or persons to the jury un- 
known, on the morning of July 2'J, 
1S70." 

Farragut. 

Aug. 14. Death of David Olascoe Far- 
ragut, Admiral of the United States 
Navy, and one of the most illustrious 
of naval commanders. His father 
served seven years in the American 
army, and during the Revolution was 
promoted to the rank of Major. David, 
at the age of eleven years, was admit- 
ted as midshipman on board the fa- 
mous frigate Emex (Commodore David 
Porter) during her celebrated two 
years' cruise in the Pacific and her 
final capture, when 155 men were lost 
in the fight. David was slightly 
wounded, paroled, and sent to New 
York. He accompanied Mr. Folsom 
(the Consul to Tunis), where he con- 
tinued his studies, becoming familiar 
with the Arabic and Turkish languages, 
also later with most of the European 
languages. When the war broke out 
he was living in Norfolk, Va., and 
was so bold in his expressions of 
abhorrence at the disloyalty of the 
citizens that they informed him he 
could not remain in Norfolk and ex- 
press such sentiments. When the 
navy yard at Norfolk was destroyed 
by Commodore McCauley, Farragut 
left Norfolk destitute of funds to con- 
vey him, and with difficulty reached 
Nevv York. After placing his family 
in safe quarters, he offered his services 
to the Government, but he had no ship, 
and for nine months this great and 
noble naval officer had to remain idle, 
Waiting for an opportunity to aid the 
Government, while unworthy, disabled, 
and incompetent officers were being 
tested and discharged. Jan. 20, he 
was appointed to lead the fleet in the 
attack on New Orleans, and Feb. 3d 
he sailed in the Hartford from Hamp- 
ton Roads. He arrived at Ship Island 
the 20th, and was two months in plan- 
ning and preparing for his grand 
attack on the metropolis of the 
.southwest. Overcoming difficulties 
which would have appalled a man 
of less energy and daring, he finally 
made the assault, which terminated 
in one of the grandest achievements 
ever accomplished. Commodore Far- 
ragut was promoted to the highest 
naval oflnce in the gift of the nation, 
and presented with a purse of $50,000 
from the merchants of New York for 
his invaluable services rendered to the 
national commerce, as he had been (oo 
busy fighting the enemy to m.ake 
profits either in capturing blockadc- 
lunners or seizing cotton. After the 
war closed, he went abroad on a cruise 
in the FraiilUn, and he everywhere 
met with the most distinguished con- 
sideration and regard. 

Aug. 22. President Grant issued a proc- 
lamation of neutrality in relation to 
the Franco-German war, and also pro- 
hibiting the American forts frirm be- 
coming depots for materials of war. 005 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1870. Admission of Revels, the first colored Sen- 
ator, to Congress. 

" Rcconstructiou of tbc South accomplish- 
ed by the admission of Representatives 
in Congress from Va., Miss., and Tex 

'' Aug. National Labor Convention held 
in Cincinnati, which voted the im- 
mediate formation of an independent 
political organization known as the 
National Labor Uo-'brm party. 

" Aua;. 33. Proclamation of neutrality is- 
sued by Prcs. (irant, enjoining Ameri- 
can citizens not to take any part in the 
Franco-German conllict. 

" Irish National Congress in Cincinnati. 

Ku-Klux Klan. 

" Ku-Rliixism investigated, and a dark 
revelation of murder, whipping, and 
violence used to intimidate the Union 
men and negroes for political purposes 
by that secret and dangerous organiza- 
tion. 

Gen. Lee. 

" Oct. 12. Death of Robert Edward Lee, 
LL.D., an American soldier and educa- 
tor, and son of Gen. Henry Lee, " the 
Light-horse Harry '" Lee of the Revolu- 
tionary war, the personal and political 
friend of Gen. Washington. Robert E. 
Lee was a graduate of West Point in 
1839. He was a Captain in the regular 
army when the Mexican war broke out, 
and when Scott invaded Mexico Lee 
was appointed chief-engineer of the 
army under Gen. Wool ; and Gen. Scott 
attributed the reduction of Vera Cruz to 
his skill; and in recognition of his valu- 
able services he w.as placed on the Gen- 
eral's btatl', and after the battle of Cerro 
Gordo, he was breveted Major ; and 
for his gallant and meritorious conduct 
at Contreras and Cliurubusco he was 
raised to the rank of Lieut.-Col., and 
in September of the same year he re- 
ceived tbe brevet rank of Colonel for 
services at Chapultepec. In 1853 he was 
assigned the important post of Super- 
intendent at West Point, retaining his 
field rank. In 1855 Col. Lee took com- 
mand of a cavalry regiment which had 
been ordered to Texas, where he re- 
mained till 1859, fighting Indians and 
performing garrison duty. He then 
returned to Washington "and toot an 
active part in capturing John Brown, 
and hunting down his feeble band; but 
it is recorded of him that his vigilance 
and firmness saved the prisoners from 
the fury of the mob. On the IGth of 
March, 1861, he was commissioned 
Colonel of the First Cavalry, and on 
April 20th he sent in his resignation 
to Gen. Scott. He was soon after ap- 
pointed commander of the Confederate 
forces in Virginia, and served after- 
ward for a time on the coast with 
headquarters in Charleston ; but he was 
shortly placed in command of all the 
Confederate forces, which position he 
occupied to the end of the war, or until 
his final surrender to Gen. Grant. Gen. 
Lee was a man marked by native gen- 
ius, and highly endowed with manly 
courage and physical beauty, and was 
greatly endeared to the South, who 
truly mourned their chieftain. 

Albert Barnes. 
" Dec. 24. Dcatli of Albert Barnes, D.D., 
an American clergyman, scholar, and 



author, in Philadelphia. He was 
of the New School Presbyterian de- 
nomination. Tie wn« tried" f(ir lierrs-^ 



1837. He was thr iiiilli..r <.l '-Note; 
on the New Testaimni "' in ( l^ven vol 
umes, also "Inqiiii V i'lto tlic Striptun 
views of Slavrr-v." ' I.ifi- nl' St. Paul,' 
etc. He ;ic.|iiir.M llir lillr ,,f D.D. 

from tw ■ i!:r. (• , m||, j, : in the 

United states, mul Iroin a fiTcign uni- 
versity. 

First narrow-gauge railway in the world 
built — the Denver and Rio Grande. 

The ])npuIation of the United States 
numbered 40,000,000. 

Manitoba made into a separate province. 

Lopez, President of Paraguay, killed, since 
which Paraguay has been, though nomi- 
nally a republic, under control of Brazil. 

Great earthquake in Guatemala. 

The treaty of Wa.shington. 

Impeachment of Gov. Holden, of North 
Carolina, for malfeasance in office. 

Ku-Khix hill passed by Congress and en- 
forced in Southern districts infested 
by them. 

Agitation of the Civil Service question, 
and a Board of Commissioners ap- 
pointed. 

Labor Reform, Woman Suff"rage, and 
Colored Conventions held in St. Louis. 

Meeting of the Alabama Claims Commis- 
sioners in Washington, Fish presiding. 

Congress passed an Act creating an im- 
mense pulilic park near the head waters 
of the Yellowstone. 

George Ticknor. 
Jan. 20. Geo. Ticknor, LL.D., an eminent 
scholar, professor, and author, died in 
Boston. Mr. Ticknor was a graduate of 
Dartmouth College in 1807. In 1830 he 
became Professor of Languages, Liter- 
ature, and Belles Lettres in Harvard 
College, from which he retired in 1835. 
In 1849 Mr. Ticknor published his 
" History of Spanish Literature." As 
a scholar, perhaps few men in America 
excelled liini, while none, unless ex- 
cepting Ivlward Kverrtt. bad a mem- 

ations ^vitll luiiliaiil lilriaiy men and 
women of tliis eoimtrv and Europe. 
He was a i>erso„.al friend of Goethe, 
Lord Byron, Sir A\'alter Scott, Madame 
de Stael. Wordsworth, and many other 
distinguished persons. To Jlr. Tick- 
nor, more than any one else, were the 
peopleof Boston iiulelited for tlie plan- 
ning and organization of tlieir great 
public library, wliich labors he per- 
formed after his sixtieth year. His pre- 
liminary report led Mr. Bates to make 
his magnificent donations. 



Aliee Cary. 
Feb. 12. Miss Alice Cary, an American 
poetess and literary writer of wide 
reputation, died in New York city. 
She enjoyed the jjublic favor to a far 
greater extent than many later and 
more brilliant w; iters for the press. 
Her writings were characterized by a 
native grace and sweetness, and a con- 
scientious regard for the true and the 
beautiful, rarely found in literary writ- 
ers of the present day. She was, 



n. though an invalid much of her life, an 
unceasing worker, and her active 
mind never lacked resources to fill the 
flying moments with sweet snatches 
of song or fairy talcs of romance. 
She was the author of many volumes, 
besides being a cimstant contributor 
to the leading literary j.iurnals of the 
day. For nearly thirty years Alice 
and her sister Phebe lived in a quiet 
little home in New York city, which 
was ever the fiivorite resort of the 
literati of the country. Her last ill- 
ness was long and painful, yet it was 
borne with a cheerfulness rarely found 
upon a bed of death. 

mtro-GIycerine. 
May 19. _ Explosion of 400 lbs. of nitro- 
glycerine in cans loaded upon a wagon 
en roiite from Titusville to Tideoute, 
Pa. The driver, horses, and wagon 
were blown to atoms. A large circular 
excavation, four or five feet deep and 
twelve feet in diameter, was made in 
the middle of the road. Tlie fences 
anil trees for a considerable distance 
around were shattered into fragments. 
A barn, forty rods away, was blown to 
pieces, and the whole vicinity was a 
).'erfect wreck. The butt end of the 
driver's wbip was driven a distance of 
one-fouith of a mile through a win- 
dow, and knocked a woman senseless. 
Sevi ral jH I .;ons remote from the scene 
Were so stunned by the terrific shock 
a- lo In, ,,nie quite ill. The shock was 
elescribed as very similar to that of an 
earthquake. 

Vallandigham. 

June 17. Death of Clement L. Vallandig- 
ham, a Democratic political leader in 
iiliin. Mr. Vallandigham was suc- 
ee^^ively a teacher, lawyer. Member 
of 1 I ui-latiire, and editor of a news- 
paper, Tiif Jhiyftm Empire. He ran 
for Congress in 1857 against Lewis D. 
Campbell, and though declared de- 
feated, contested the seat and won it; 
He served in the Thirty-sixth and 
Thirty- seventh Congress, and was 
conspicuous for his bold atterancea 
against the Administration. Upon his 
return to Ohio from Congress, his 
jmlilic spi lilies against the war and 
tile .\ibninistration were of such an in- 
fiapjDiatoiy. bitter, and violent nature, 
that Gen. Burnside, the Commander 
of that department, ordered his arrest. 
He was court-martialed, ccmvicted, 
and sentenced to close confinement 
during the war. President Lincoln 
changed his sentence to banishment 
across the lines. He was coldly re- 
ceived by the Southern leaders, and 
soon escajjed through the blockade to 
Canada by the Bermudas. While in 
exile he was nominated for Governor 
of Ohio, but was defeated by Hon. 
John Brough by over 100,000 votes, 
lie returned undisturbed to Ohio, and 
was a member of the National Demo- 
cratic Congress at Chicago in 1864 ; 
and just before his death he advocated 
the Democratic " New Dej)arture." 

July 13. Great riot in New York be- 
tween the Irish factions — the Orange- 
men and Roman Catholics ; 07 killed 
and 117 wounded. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



803 



July 10. First exposure of " Tammany 
King " iu the New York Times. 

Phcbe Gary. 

July 31. Miss Phebe Cary died at, Ncvv- 
]iort, R. I. She was sister to Alice 
Cary, the poetess ; herself a poetess 
and writer of much note. Phebe be- 
gan writing verses .at the age of 17 
years, and soon her hymns, songs, and 
household lyrics became eagerly sought 
for, and read in thousands of homes. 
She was the " housekeeper " in the 
little home of the sisters (Alice being 
an invalid), and her spare time was 
devoted to contributing her rich an:l 
varied thoughts and fancies to the 
literary press of the day. Iler death 
soon followed that of her sister, for 
whom her grief was intense and incon- 
solable. 

Aug. 4. Mrs. Lydia Shankland, a cente- 
narian in Hillsboro, N. C, died at the 
age of 113 years. At the time of the 
Revolutionary war she was a young 
woman. 

Oct. 9. Earthquake shocks felt in the 
Atlantic States. 

Burning of the City of Chicago. 

Oct. 8-9. This was the most destructive 
conflagration recorded in the history of 
civilized nations, sweeping over 2,134 
acres of ground, or 73 miles of streets, 
destroying 17,450 buildings and their 
contents, with a loss of $300,000,000 
and hundreds of human lives. The 
wind had been blowing strongly from 
the south-west for several days, and 
not a drop of rain 'had fallen for 
•weeks. The fire originated in a small 
shed or stable in the rear of 137 De 
Koven Street, on the west side of the 
city, at half-past nine o'clock Sunday 
evening. When once started, among a 
class of wooden buildings and shanties, 
and adjacent to a number of shingle 
and planing mills and factories, no 
])ower could arrest the flames. They 
leaped and darted across streets and over 
high blocks, consuming everything in 
their mad fury. The river afforded no 
barrier to their progress, and often the 
flames started up several blocks in ad- 
vance, ignited by burning shingles, 
boards, and soraelimes heavy planks, 
which were carried like feathers before 
the wind. The water-works were de- 
stroyed early in the night, and no 
further efforts could be made to arrest 
the progress of destruction. The wind 
increased to a perfect gale, tilling the 
air with coals, brands, and burning 
fragments of every description, often 
hurling heavy doors and sections of 
roofing and awnings through the air 
with relentless fury, rendering passage 
through the streets extremely perilous. 
After all hope of saving the city was 
abandoned, then began the wild rush 
of thousands of human beings for a 
place of safety. 

By four o'clock Monday morning all 
the bridges were burned except one on 
the main branch, and the tunnels 
were but furnaces, through wliich the 
smoke and flames poured with the fury 
of a hurricane. Soon escape was im- 
possible for a large number tvho were 
hemmed in on the south side. There 



was but one avenue left, and that the 
lake. Already the shipping was on 
file, and every large building adjacent 
to the water was in flames. But, with 
the desperation of despair these un- 
fortunate creatures rushed into the 
water. A few boats and vessels had 
escaped, and some were rescued on 
these, and the railroad cars from the 
south bore away the flying fugitives 
until the burdened trains began to 
take fire. It was, indeed, a race for 
life, and for a time the flames seemed 
sure to win. On and on they swept 
to the northward, through the old 
cemetery and over Lincoln Park, 
carrying destruction to everything in 
their march. But one house in the 
long and devastating track of this 
fiery hurricane was left standing, 
and that, being in the center of "a 
block, and defended by a score of 
hands, had been covered by wet carpets 
and blankets, which were constantly 
replenished with water from a large 
cistern. No tongue, or pen, or human 
power can depict that fearful carnival 
of flame which surged, with resistless 
power, for over thirty hours. At last it 
reached the northern limits of the city, 
and there expired for want of prey. 

The news of this terrible disaster 
reached the farthest extent of civili- 
zation before the smoke had cleared 
away, and from every nook and corner 
of this wide continent began to pour in 
such large supplies of food, clothing, 
and everything necessary for the sus- 
tenance of life, that in less than forty- 
eight hours there was abundance for 
present need. Millions of dollars 
besides were sent to support the 
'■pauper city," and to build liouses 
and store them for the shelter of 
tliousauds through the cold winter. 
$7,000,000 were contributed for this 
purpose. 

The nations of Europe sent proffers 
of sympathy and aid. And while the 
Samaritans were busy at their work of 
mercy, the thieves and plunderers were 
also on the alert, and a reign of terror 
was imminent. But Gen. Phil. Sheridan, 
with a detachment of regulars, soon 
restored order and afforded protection 
to life and property. The wonderful 
charities which were so treely be- 
stowed were only paralleled by the 
marvelous energies displayed by the 
citizens of Chicago in her restoration. 
In less than three years scarce a vestige 
of the great fire remained, and the 
city was rebuilt more solidly and beau- 
tifully than before, and the business 
part greatly extended. It seemed like 
the work of magic, and is a striking 
illustration of the enterprise of the age 
in which we live. 

Great Forest Fires. 
Oct. 9. G rent Jlrcs in the. forests of North- 
ern Ilichiijatt and Wisconsin, sweeping 
over large districts of heavily-timbered 
country, burning the green pinetrees as 
though they were the driest tinder, 
and enveloping small villages, settle- 
ments, and saw-milis with a cordon of 
fire, rendering all efforts to escape 
futile. Millions of dollars in properly 
and hundreds of human lives were 
thus destrovcd. 



Burning of Peshtigo. 
1871. Oct. 9. The burning of this little town 
with nearly every one of its inhabitants 
was the saddest and most shocking 
feature of any of the great and disas- 
trous fires which swept over the country 
during this ever memorable year. This 
was a village of several hundred inhab- 
itants, who were engaged in the lum- 
ber business, there being large saw-mills 
upon the stream. The fire came with 
a tornado of wind ; suddenly, and with- 
out a moment's warning, it fell like a 
vast flaming thunderbolt from heaven 
and wiped the little hamlet out of ex- 
istence. The frantic people ran for the 
river and the cleared fields; the water 
was filled with floating logs and tim- 
bers, and the poor distracted cattle also 
took refuge in the river ; many of 
the people were crushed and drowned 
who were not burned upon its banks ; 
and all who sought shelter in the forest, 
or in the open fields, were burned — 
literally roasted alive. A few only es- 
caped to tell the dreadful tale. The 
spectacle after the fire was exhausted 
was one of the most heart-rending that 
ever was witnessed. Thousands of 
people visited the spot, and to the 
few survivors aid was jaromptly given. 

Gen. Anderson. 

" Oct. 3G. Maj.-Gen. Robert Anderson died 
at Nice, France. Gen. Anderson was a 
graduate from West Point as an artil- 
lery officer. He served as a Colonel in 
the Black Hawk war, and served in the 
Florida war with great acceptance. 
He was aide-de-camp to Gen. Scott, and 
in 1841 he was promoted to a cap- 
taincy of artillery. He was in the 
IMexican war under Scott, and was 
wounded at the battle of Molino del 
Rey. He was, for his bravery, breveted 
Major. Until the breaking out of the 
Rebellion he was a very useful and 
effleient ofliccr in the U. S. Army, and 
Governor of a Military Asylum at 
Harrodsburg, Ky., which institution he 
founded. Gen. Scott selected him to 
command the fort at Charleston from 
full confidence in his integrity, al- 
though he was by birth and marriage 
a Southern man. John B. Floyd, a 
noted secessionist, was Secretary of 
War under Pres. Buchanan, and on 
Anderson's appointment to the post, 
they refused him a battalion, allowing 
him but two skeleton companies, and 
alter his arrival at Fort Moultrie he 
constantly appealed, but in vain, for 
reinforcements and supplies (see notes 
on Fort Sumter). 

•' Hall made a third and last voyage to the 
Arctic seas. 

" Nov. Russian Minister Catacazy dis- 
missed for discourtesy to the United 
States authoiities. 

" Nov. 8. Death of Capt. Hall on board 
the Polaris in the Arctic seas. 

" Nov. 38. Death of Mrs. Bridget Carroll, 
au Irish centenarian, in N. Y. city, 
aged 102 years; married at 33 and had 
10 children, 37 grandchildren, and 4 
great-grandchildren. At the age of 
94 she had not an unsound tooth in 
her head, and just before her death 
she could thread the finest cambric 
needle without the aid of spectacles. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



Grand Duke Alexis. 

Visit of the Grand Duke Alexis, son of the 
Emperor Alexander of Russia, to tlic 
United States, his extended tour over 
the land, and his generous welcome by 
the people. 

Thomas Ewing. 
Death of Thomas Ewing, LL.D., an 
American jurist and statesman. Mr. 
Ewing was the fiither of Gen. Thomas 
Ewing, Jr., and father-in-law of Gen. 
William T. Sherman. Mr. Ewing re- 
ceived in 1815 the first bachelor's de- 
gree ever granted in Ohio. He then 
studied law, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1816. In 1831 he entered the 
U. S. Senate. In politics Mr. Ewing 
was a Whig, and was associated with 
Clay and Webster in opposition to 
President Jackson. In 1841 he became 
Secretary of the Treasury under Har- 
rison. 

Stanley. 

Visit of Henry M. Stanley, of the "■Her- 
ald Expedition," to Africa, in search of 
the lost traveler — Dr. Livingstone. 
Mr. Stanley reached Zanzibar in due 
time, and after a tedious journey 
through the wilds of Africa, he met 
the object of his search in Ujiji in 
November. Remaining with Living- 
stone about four months, in August he 
reached London ; and "upon the wings 
of the wind " the whole world was 
made acquainted with the result of his 
wonderful travels through the jungles 
of Africa, the peculiar and almost mi- 
raculous meeting with the celebrated 
Dr. Livingstone, whom the world re- 
garded as lost, electrified all the civil- 
ized nations of the earth, with a pecul- 
iar sympathy in the great traveler and 
his already famous discoverer. Mr. 
Stanley immediately began writing a 
book witli a detailed account of his 
journey, with which the world is al- 
ready familiar. 

Revolution in Guatemala. 

British Columbia taken into tho Do- 
minion. 

City of Buenos Ayres visited by yellow 
fever, and 26,000 persons died in 100 
days. 

The Ku-Klux bill passed by Con- 
gress 606 

Civil Service Reform question agitated, 
and a board of civil service commis- 
sioners appointed 606 

Statistics of the United States census for 
1870 published, giving the population 
of the United States 38,113,353 606 

A Joint Commission appointed between 
the United States and Great Britain 
to examine all cases in dispute. The 
Commission met at Washington on 
Feb. 37th, and, after a lengthy discus- 
sion, the Washington treaty was 
signed 607 

Agassiz started on a voyage round Cape 
Horn. 

Credit Mohilier. 
This year the great '' Credit Mohilier''^ 
scandal, which involved several promi- 
nent Government official-:, including 
the Vice-President, was developed. It 
was an extensive corporation of stock- 
holders of the Union Pacific Railroad, 
pf which Oakes Ames, a United States 



( ■,,ii'jir-,-in:iii iVom Massachusett'', was 
til'' I':mI)!i_ -lirit. It was claimed 
tlial, lliiMiili 'MihiTY, prnminent Con- 
gressmen ;.'i.i ruii,' I ^'l;,!,.. ,,fficials 
had voted ! ,; I , . ! ': .for the 

building .il tlir ' , Hi i ' .. : lailroad. 
Large proliN \,r; • ,h, ■!•,,• I iVom this 
money over the actual fo-,t of construc- 
tion, a sliaro of which fell to the stock- 
holders of this corporation. 

Stokes-Fisk Tragedy. 
Jan. 6. James Fisk was shot by Edward 
S. Stokes at the Grand Central Ho- 
tel, in New York. A woman the 
cause of the crime — Mrs. Helen Jose- 
phine Mansfield, an actress, playing in 
minor parts in AVestern towns. In 
her travels she met an actor, Frank 
Lawler, to whom she was afterward 
married. She was a showy woman, 
and upon her appearance in New York 
she was at once surrounded by a num- 
ber of admirers. Her husband becom- 
ing jealous, she applied for and ob- 
tained a divorce. Hearing of Mr. 
Fisk's generosity toward unfortunate 
actors and actresses, she sought an in- 
troduction, and it soon became appar- 
ent that she had captured Fisk's heart. 
She accompanied him to balls, thea- 
ters, and parties, ami rode with him 
behind his lour-in-liand, at all times 
occupying the post of honor. At the 
grand public bull in the Acndemy of 
Music she was gazed at by the throng 
on the floor, as she sat like a queen 
in the best proscenium box. At this 
time she was living in her own house, 
presented by Fisk, which cost §20,- 
000, and was mortgaged for $30,000 
more — the furniture costing $10,000. 
The lawful wife of Mr. Fisk was living 
in Boston at this time. The acquaint- 
ance between Fisk and Stokos at this 
date was of a purely business charac- 
ter. Becoming moie intimate, Fisk 
invited Stokes to dinner at Mrs. Mans- 
field's house, when he bceuiiie capti- 
vated by the handsfiiiir fa,, nfits mis- 
tress, and as Stoki > wi- Immm ,.mc and 
gay,andmuch sup, 1 i,,r I,. I'i K in social 
attainments, Mrs. -Maii-ii,_M "took a 
fancy" to her guest. Fisk, though 
naturally unsuspecting, soon became 
jealous of his rival ; and the ijreference 
which his mistress showed her new 
lover exasperated him, and he watched 
for an opportunity to dislodge his ri- 
val. Stokes soon gave him an oppor- 
tunity. Being mutually interested in 
an oil company, Stokes drew heavily 
from the treasury, and Fisk had him 
arrested for embezzlement. War was 
now declared, and Mrs. Mansfield took 
open sides with Stokes. Fisk had the 
money, but Stokes had possession of 
the woman. Fisk caniid nn the war 
so hotly .against Slukcs thai be sued 
Fisk for libel, huviiiL; prcvio:i-,ly sued 
him for false impriscnnicut in 'the al- 
leged embezzlement case, and which 
Fi-k settled by paying $10,oOO dam- 
ages. The day of the trial, Stokes 
appeared " dressed up like a count," 
in company with Mrs. Mansfield ar- 
rayed in the height of fashion. Fisk 
was not present, but was represented 
by his counsel. The trial that day was 
an exciting and stormy one, and was 
adjourned for one week. While at 



lunch at Delmonico's, immediately 
after the trial, Stokes learned that 
Fisk had procured an indictment 
a_ lin-i liiia fnr conspiracy. He im- 
]a I all I I. , aired to the Grand Cen- 
ti I II. ail 111 earchofFisk. Arriving 
a: lie h, i,| of llie stairway on the sec- 
laei iliinr, lea,linir IViiin tlie lailics' en- 
ti:MMe, li,. .aw Ki.k a-e,ai.ling the 
saiiis, aii.l laising a revolver lie imine- 
oialely lireel two shots at his enemy, 
muttering some unintelHgible words at 
tlie same time. One of the shots en- 
tered Fisk's abdomen, and he stag- 
gered back a dying man, and was car^ 
ried to one of the hotel parlors. 
Stokes made no attempt to escape, 
and was soon under arrest. He was 
identified by Fisk, and then locked up. 
btokes was indicted for murder in 
the lirst degree, and on Jan. 6, 1873, 
111- was sentenced to be hanged on the 
'jsili (if the following month, but a new 
liial was granted and the death-sen- 
ti IK c annulled, and he was finally sen- 
ten, ,il, on Oct. 39, to four years im- 
]nisiiniiunt in New York State prison. 
He, however, was detained in the 
Tomlis about one year and nine months 
before being sent to Auburn, during 
which time he was the most noted 
criminal in the country, as many as 
GOO applications for passes being 
aranted in one day to persons who 
wished to get sight of him. His 
father and lirother were his most con- 
stant visiti'is, but neitlier his wife or lit- 
tle sevcn-vear-iil.l ilanuhter ever visited 
him. He' kept tlic picture of his little 
daiiiihter hanging on the cell wall. 
His wife obtained a legal divorce from 
him, and Mrs. Mansfield immediately 
repaired to Paris, where she had sev- 
eral romantic adventures, one of which 
was with a rich Count, whose flnanc'al 
ruin she accomplished. She after- 
ward returned to the United States 
and took up her residence in Phila- 
delphia. The whole period of Stokes' 
imprisonment in the Tombs, Sing Sing, 
and at Auburn, was four years, nine 
months, and twenty-one days. He 
was discharged from Auburn Oct. 28, 
1876. 

Jim Fisk. 

James Fisk was the son of a peddler, and 
barely received a common school edu- 
cation. After serving as a waiter in a 
hotel and member of a circus company 
for a time, he joined his father in ped- 
dling, and after a time he bought his 
father out, and then employed him to 
visit the rural districts, while he him- 
self visited the larger towns and vil- 
lages. His horses were always gay, 
and his wagons bright and showy, and 
himself sparkling with wit, humor, and 
good - natured impudence, for which 
he afterward became so famous. He 
prospered very rapidly, and soon be- 
came a salesman in the Boston house 
where he bought his supplies. Soon 
he liecame a partner. He made some 
excellent bargains with the Govern- 
ment during the war, and, it is said, 
made a happy stroke smuggling cotton 
through tlie lines. ]n four years Mr. 
Fisk retired from the firm with cajntal 
enough to start a store of his own, 
and in four months his money was all 



CHEONOLOGY. 



805 



1873. gone. He soon after appeared in New 
York, and opened a'tjrokcr's office in 
Broadway, liis entire capital consisting 
in (if reports can be believed) a bor- 
rowed silver watch ; and when he in- 
troduced himself to the favor of Daniel 
Drew, by negotiating for him the sale 
of the Bristol line of steamboats, he 
was practically penniless. Mr. Drew 
first set him up as a broker in partner- 
ship with Belden, and employed the 
new firm in carrying on his famous 
war with Cornelius Vanderbilt for 
possession of the Erie Kailroad. In 
Oct., 1867, Fisk was one of three con- 
testants for the office of Director, and 
a compromise resulted in the election 
of Fisk and Gould as Directors of the 
Erie Kailroad; and from this point 
dates Mr. Fisk's memorable and 
stupendous railroad and commercial 
schemes, the magnitude, daring, and 
success of which almost surpass com- 
prehension or belief, and reads more 
like an Arabian or fairy tale than 
practical and real business transactions. 
Fisk and Gould now began their spec- 
ulations and gambling in railroad 
stocks, and were soon able to enumerate 
their gains by millions. Not satisfied 
with these brilliant gains, Fisk and 
his partners began to speculate in gold, 
and in September, 1869, they brought 
on that crisis which will long be re- 
membered in the history of "Wall 
Street" as "Black Friday." Next 
Fisk purchased the Eighth Avenue 
Opera House, New York, and leased a 
part for the Erie Railroad ofiSces ; he 
managed the theater himself He then 
bought the Fifth Avenue Theater, a 
summer-garden in the city, for the 
purpose of a restaurant; two lines of 
steamboats plying between Fall River 
and New York and Bristol and New 
York, and bought a ferry line across 
the Hudson. He became Colonel of 
the Ninth Regiment of the New York 
State Guard, and was figuiiug for a 
Brig.-Generalsliip at the time of his 
death. He bought coaches, express- 
wagons, and lands; liouses, too, which 
he furnished with barbaric splendor, 
and filled them with opera-bouffe sing- 
ers and other celebrities of like grade. 

Samuel F. Morse. 

" Samuel F. Morse, LL.D., the inventor of 
the electric telegraph, a painter and 
author, died this year. Mr. Morse was 
one of the founders of the National 
Academy of Design in New York, and 
its first President, and a lecturer on 
fine arts at the New York Atbensum. 
Mr. Morse was also a fine portrait 
painter. His great invention was 
virtually per'ected while on a home- 
ward voyage from Europe, in 1833, and 
the recording apparatus and essential 
features were sketched upon paper 
before leaving the vessel, but it was not 
till 1835 that a line was put up, con- 
sisting of a half-mile of wire, and the 
experiment tested. In 1837 he gave 
publicity to his enterprise, by an ex- 
hibition at the University, and the 
same year filed his caveat at the Patent 
Office in Washington, but not till ls43 
could he get the attention of Congress 
or any material aid to his enterprise, 
and only in the extreme hurry of the 



last session, at the hour of midnight, 
alter his hopes had all departed, did 
Congress grant him the sum of $30,000 
to experiment upon his invention. 
And when but $7,000 of the money was 
left, and he proved the laying of the 
wires in the ground a failure, Mr. Ezra 
Cornell came to his rescue, and sug- 
gested the elevation and stretching of 
the wire upon poles ; this proved a 
success, and saved Mr. Morse from tlis- 
couragement and defeat. With the 
details of the history of the telegraph 
the public are familiar, and its grand 
achievements are acknowledged by 
every nation under the sun. 

Congress voted the abolition of all po- 
litical disabilities i^laced upon the 
Southern people, excepting those who 
had been leaders in the Rebellion. 

Northwestern Boundary Question settled 
by tlie Emperor of Germany, who 
acted as arbiter between England and 
America, granting and establishing 
the claims of the United States. 

Jan. 18. Severe storm at Aspinwall; the 
shipping and mole were damaged to 
the extent of $500,000. 

" New Departure '' of the Democratic 
party undeV the initiative of Vallandig- 
ham, and supported by Adams and 
Chase. 

Labor Refurm Convention. 
Feb. Labor Reform party held a Con- 
vention in Columbus, O., nominating 
.Judge Davis, of 111., for President and 
Joel Parker, of New Jersey, for Vice- 
President. Mr. Davis declined, and a 
convention of workingmen met at 
Philadelphia and nominated Charles 
O'Couor, of New York, President. .607 

Colored Convention. 

National Colored Convention met in New 
Orleans, indorsing Grant's Adminis- 
tration, and tendering thanks to Charles 
Sumner for his continued efforts in be- 
half of the colored people 607 

Feb. 17. The Ministers Plenipotentiary 
of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, 
and San Salvador signed a treaty for 
the formation of a Central American 
Union, consisting of the several inde- 
pendent republics. 

March. A ship-canal successfully sur- 
veyed across the Isthmus of Panama, 
by an expedition from New York. 

Greeley's Nomination. 

May 1. The Liberal Republican party 
held a Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
nominating Horace Greeley for Presi- 
dent and Gratz Brown, of Missouri, 
for Vice-President. 

June 5. Regular Republican Convention 
met at Philadelphia, nominating by 
acclamation Ulysses S. Grant for Presi 
dent and Henry Wilson for Vice- 
President. 

July 9. Regular Democratic Convention 
held in Baltimore, indorsing the nom 
ination of Horace Greeley by the Liberal 
Republicans. 

James Gordon Bennett. 
June 1. Death of James Gordon Ben- 
nett, a noted and remarkable journal- 
ist, cngagci.1 for fifty years in the press, 



and founder, editor, and proprietor of 
the iV. T. llrrald. He was a nominal 
Catholic, but liberal in faith. Was 
born in Scotland, and sent to school to 
study for the priesthood, but soon 
found he had mistaken his calling. 
Reading the Autobiography of Frank- 
lin, he determined to emigrate to 
America, and landed with but $25 in 
his pocket. He finally arrived in Bos- 
ton without any funds, and wandered 
about hungry for two days, looking 
for work. He found a job, reading 
jwoof, in the publishing hou^e of Wells 
& Lilly. He next went to South Caro- 
lina as a teacher ; next to New York 
in 1834, and started a commercial 
school, which failed ; then he tried 
lecturing on political economy, which 
also proved a failure. Again he tried 
the newspapers as reporter, paragraph- 
ist, poet, and general utility man. In 
18'25 he bought the Sunday Courier 
on credit, but soon gave it up. He next 
cciiincctcd Iiiiiisulf with the Democratic 
jS'.ilioinfl AJ.-i /'f/'s, r, and that journal 
cbiiiiuinLC li:inils .-iiid politics, he left it 
and ji/uK'd lliij kite M. M. Noah as as- 
sistant editor of the Enquirer. Mr. 
Bennett now interested himself in pol- 
itics, and joined the Tammany Society, 
and soon manifested that cynical spirit 
which was so characteristic of his 
writings. In 1828 he went to Wash- 
ington as correspondent for the En- 
quirer, and there made his first de- 
cided hit. He read the letters of Hor- 
ace Walpole in the Congressional Li- 
brary, and attempted a similar vein in 
his correspondence for the Enquirer, 
which attracted much notice, and was 
extensively copied. 

Mr. Bennett was earning at this 
time, from various labors with his pen, 
from $5 to $13 per week. At his sug- 
gestion the Enquirer was consolidated 
with another paper as the Courier and 
Enquirer, under James Watson Webb, 
with young Bennett as assistant, and 
which soon became the leading news- 
jjaper of the times ; but after three years 
the editor and young Bennett sepa- 
rated from a difference of political opin- 
ion, and Bennett started a cheap party 
paper, devoted to the support of Jackson 
and Van Bureu, which lived but thirty 
days. Then he went to Philadelphia 
"with the wreck of his savings "and 
placed them in a Jacksonian paper 



called The Penmylvanian, and ap- 
pealed to the party for help, which was 
refused; and giving up the venture, 
he returned to New York. He en- 
deavored to get employment on the 
Sun, but failed. Herein really lay his 
first good luck, for he resolved to trust 
no more to politicians, and the result 
was The New York Herald, the first 
number of which appeared in May, 
1835, price one cent, and for sale every- 
where. Two young printers agreed to 
print It and take the risk of sharing 
the profits or losses, under the firm of 
"James Gordon Bennett & Co." The 
publishers' office was a deep cellar at 
No. 20 Wall Street, where all the busi- 
ness of the concern was transacted, 
with a plank supported by two flour 
barrels for a desk. The paper was a 
small, four-page, independent, sharp, 
cynical, and witty little sheet, and soon 
became very popular. It offended all 



CHKONOLOGY. 



parties and all creeds ; was denounced 
by the Catholic-; for blasphemy, and 
shocked the sense of decency of the 
Protestants, but pcojyfe would lay it. 
When four mouths old the paper was 
burned out, but he raked it out of the 
ashes and started again as sole proprie- 
tor, doing all the labor, writing, office- 
work, reporting, and everything him- 
self. In seven years, unaided, he made 
the paper worth $1,000,000, with a cir- 
culation of 20,000. During the war 
the circulation was more than doubled. 
It employed, in addition to its regular 
force, 03 war correspondents at a great 
expense. He always paid liberally for 
news items, and once gave to a news 
reporter $35 for a mus trlii,'nim of 
three words, which li:i>l cnst hut .fl. 
At another time lie .uMrrcd -SlOii to be 
paid to a contributor tor au article of 
six columns which had been contracted 
for at $8 per column, adding to the 
editor, by way of explanation, "He 
may have sometliing else as good," in 
which he was not deceived ; the corre- 
spondent proved to be very valuable to 
the paper. His one object was tlie 
success of the Hemhl, which he sought 
regardless of means or consequences, 
and never endeavored to please any one 
but himself, and succeeded in that and 
was happy. Mr. Bennett was a strictly 
temperate and virtuous man, with 
neither low habits or idle hours, and 
was an indefatigable worker. In these 
things his great success lay. 

Alabama Claims. 
Final settlemerU of the Alabama Claims, 
which grew out of the acts of several 
vessels, some of them built and man- 
ned in Great Britain, and others sailed 
from Confederate ports under command 
of the secessionists, and were used as 
cruisers by the rebels. They destroyed 
millions of dollars worth of United 
States property ou the seas, and were 
permitted to sail into English ports 
and take on supplies of provisions and 
coal. $10,250,000 were awarded to 
the United States by Great Britain. 



Fcfer Cartw right. 

Sept. 25. Death of Peter Cartwright, an 
eccentric, but useful Methodist preacher 
in Sangamon Co., III. His lather was 
a soldier of the Revolution, and about 
1790 removed with his family to Ken- 
tucky, and here, in this Western 
wilderness, Peter Cartwright was 
raised, and his education was acquired 
by hunting, tishing, horse-racing, 
dancing, and all Kinds of jollity and 
mirth, amid the nilds of the far West, 
and amid all the hardships possible to 
a pioneer life. When 16 years of age 
he was convicted of his sins at a camp- 
meeting, where hundreds were con- 
verted, and he was soon pronounced 
jDflnverted, when he immediately started 
iput as a local fireacher, and soon was 
admitted into the regular ministry of 
the M. E. Church. He continued to 
preach, and, at times, engaged in 
politics. He was once elected to the 
Legislature of Illinois, and was victor 
in many contentions by his ready wit 
and resolute spiiit. He was. for more 
jthan fifty years, a Presiding Elder, and 



saw the M. E. Church rise in the U. 
S. from a membership of 72,874 to 
1,008,314. He was a powerful preacher 
and laborious pastor, and much beloved 
by the Church. 

Epizootic. 
Scjjt. 30. First appearance of the epizootic 
in America was in Toronto, Ontario, 
and in New York, ( 'r-t 1 ", v.liPii in ten 
days 40,000 horse- i ■ . ^1 hv it, 
and 13,000 in I'l : n i , i in 'less 
than two months ii IlkI ii :,i hd over 
the entire Atlantic -!<iin, iiiiiicnriiiir in 



(iaiveston. Tex;, 


, ;iiiil ir,.,rh:n.,' Colo- 


rado, Wvomin-, 


•m.l ^-c^:cl:, in .Jan., 


1873, and Caliloi 


ni:. a lew days later. 


The disease pro 


■ed to he a very old 


one under a nc 


w name. It began 


about 415 B.C., re 


-appealed in A.D. 330, 



d at intervals, to the present time, 
although this was, perhaps, its first 
visit to the New World, and was 
evidently an epidemic, and during its 
prevalence was the cause of much iu- 
conveuience to man and great suiferiug 
to domestic animais. 

Oct. 10. Death of Mrs. Sarah Payson 
Willis Parton, authoress, better known 
as Fanny Fern, in New York, aged 61. 
She was the sister of the noted'author 
and poet, N. P. Willis, and wife of the 
jiopular historian, James Parton. Mrs. 
Parton was one of the most spicy and 
])opular newspaper essayists and au- 
thors of tliis country. She was widely 
known from her newspaper sketches, 
called " Fern Leaves," also as the author 
of several interesting works of fiction. 

Nov. At the election in Uoeliester. N. 
Y., Susan B. Anthony and tifteen 
other ladies voted, for which illegality 
they were duly arrested. 

Gi-n. George Meade. 
Nov. 6. Death of Geoi-ee (hadon Meade, 
LL.D., Mai.-(!en. I'.S. .\. Cen. Meade 
was agradii.ite ofvre-l l',.int in 1JS35, 
and ill ls3ri lie ^lsi^;]e^l liis commis- 
sion ill the ai-iherv on :,ecn,„,t of ill- 
health, an. I heeiune ;, eivil uie'ineer. 
lint in is),' he ;m;ii:i eiiiercil tlie army 

'ropoura|ihie:il Tiil: i iieei s, ;iiid served 

upon till' stiir of (on. 'i'aylor, and 
afterward tint of Scott, in which 
service he di-t inuui-led himself, and 
was promoted ui.oii lii- k turn to Phila- 
delphia. Diniije the interval between 
the Mexican ami Civil wars, Mr. Meade 
was engaged in the survey of the 
northern lakes. But upon" the call 
of the Government for men, he was 
ordered to report at Washington, where 
he was made a Brig.-Gen. of Volunteers 
in command of the Second ihigade. 
In the advance on i;ichniond. Gen. 
Meade was severely woninli.l, bat was 
able to conduct iiis coimuaud with 
bravery throughout the Maryland 
campaign. At Antietam he was 
slightly wounded, and had two horses 
shot under him. On Nov. 2'.i, 1863, he 
was appointed Maj, -Gen. of Volunteers, 
and took part in the liattle of 
Fredericksburii'. In .June, 1S(;3, he was 
unexpiitidly eiLlledto succeed Hooker 
ill e neuhi oi the Army of the Poto- 
mac nnnii.eiinu- 100,000 men. 

Jlis army loiight in the battles of the 



Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-house, 
and Cold Harbor, and was employ ed 
in the siege of Petersburg. In 'the 
next year Gen. Meade was promoted 
to a Brigadier-Generalship in the U. 
S. A. Gen. Meade was a true patriot 
and brave soldier, and was greatly 
esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and 
u])on his death the funer.al honors jjaid 
to his remains were only excelled by 
those bestowed upon the martjTed 
President. 

The National Grangers. 

Being a secret organization or move- 
ment among the laboring classes, 
especially the fiirmers, to unite the 
jieople through a system of universal 
co-operation between producers and 
consumers. The movement extended 
nearly over the entire Union, embrac- 
ing all laboring or producing classes. 

Oct. Conspiracy against the Govern- 
ment of Costa Rica discovered and 
defeated. 

Great Boston Fire. 
Nov. 9. A fire broke out in the heart of 
the city of Boston and destroyed 800 
buildings, chiefly of fine granite and 
marble, which, as in the great fire of 
Chicago the year previous, crumbled 
down like chalk before the devouring 
flames. Nearly 65 acres, covered with 
1 onimercial palaces and fine and ap- 
]>arcntly indestructible buildings, were 
su ept over, and left a mass of shapeless 
and charred ruins. The most as'onish- 
ing feature of the Boston lire is that 
there was no gale as at Chicago, yet 
the flames were perfectly uncontrollable, 
(iunjjowder was extensively used in 
blowing up the buildings; but the 
stieets were so narrow and the build- 
ings so high that the firemen were 
baffled in their eflforts. At last, after 
many of the brave fellows had lost 
their lives, and the very heart was 
burned out of the city, they gained a 
victory over the " fiery demon " and 
stayeil the progress of his march. 
The loss was estimated at |85, 000,000 
and the number of lives considerable. 

Horace Greeley. 
Nov. 29. Horace Greeley, an American 
reformer and founder of the New York 
Trlhune, died in Westchester Co., N. Y. 
J\lr. Greeley was born of poor parents, 
in the town of Amherst, N. H., in 1811, 
and worked upon a farm till he was 15 
jears of age, when he entered the 
printing-office of the Northern Spec- 
tator in East Poultney, Vt., as an ap- 
prentice, where he remained over four 
years, mastering his trade in all its 
liranches. He then went to Erie, Pa., 
and found employment in a news- 
jjaper office, where he made many 
friends, and was offered a partnership 
in the business, though but twmty 
years old. In Aug., ISil. Horace 
Greeley arrived in New York with 
only ten dollars in his pocket, and a 
scanty wardrobe tied up in a bundle. 
He had never seen a city of such size, 
and was utterly ignorant of its ways 
and wonders. He began to seared for 
work, but his verdant appearance was 
mucli against liim, and he was told by 



CHRONOLOGY. 



807 



Mr. David Trail, the editor of the 
Journal of Commerce, that he believed 
him to be a ruuanay apprentice fvom 
some country printiug-office. Becom- 
ing discouraged, and his money about 
gone, he resolved to leave the city, but 
in the evening he fell in with some 
young Irishmen vrho took an interest 
in the wandering printer, and directed 
him to the printing-office of Mr. Jolin 
T. West, who had a piece of work so 
difficult that no printer acquainted in 
the city could be induced to accept it. 
It was the composition of a miniature 
New Testament in a curiously intricate 
style of typography. But nothing 
daunted, this " green country boy " 
undertook the job, and by laborious 
and constant application from twelve 
to fourteen hours each day he could 
earn si.x dollars per week. Mr. Greeley 
next entered the office of the Spirit of 
the Times, and becoming soon on in- 
timate terms with the foreman of the 
office, the two entered a partnership to 
establish a job printing-office, and took 
a contract to print a cheap daily news- 
paper to be sold on the streets, but 
owing to the incompetency of its editor 
it proved a failure, but the job office 
ccmtinued to prosper. His partner was 
soon after drowned, and he procured 
another, and in a short time the new 
film started a weekly newspaper called 
The New-Torl-er, Mr. Greeley being 
the editor and his companion the pub- 
lisher. This paper lived for over seven 
years, and arose from one dozen sub- 
scribers to over 9,000, but being con- 
ducted on the credit system, was a los- 
ing speculation financially. Next Mr. 
Greeley became editor of the Jeffersoni- 
an, a Whig campaign paper, which at- 
tained a subscription of 15,000, and was 
admirably conducted. During the Har- 
I'ison campaign Mr. Greeley conducted 
the Log Cabin, which was subsequently 
merged into the iV. T. Tribune, which 
paper Mr. Greeley was identified with 
till the time of his death. The orig- 
inal list of Tribune subscribers num- 
bered 600, and at the end of the first 
year its success was established. The 
high character of thi;t journal under 
Mr. Greeley's supervision is so well 
established that it is unnecessary to 
detail its history. Mr. Greeley was a 
AVhig in politics, and a liberal thinker. 
He was elected to Congress in 1 848 to 
fill a vacancy, and never afterward was 
a member of any deliberate body ex- 
cept the late Constitutional Conven- 
tion of New York. His greatest power 
was exerted in the editorial chair, 
although his career as a lecturer was 
successful. Mr. Greeley was the author 
of several minor works, the most in- 
teresting of which was " Recollections 
of a Busy Lifs," which was his auto- 
biography. Mr. Greeley joined the 
Re|)ublican party at its start, being 
one of its founders. When the war 
was over (which he aided in every 
laudable way) he was exceedingly 
anxious for peace, and bearing no 
malice to the South, he became one of 
the bondsmen to Jeflf. Davis, which act 
lost him an elec'ion to the Senate and 
made him very unpopular for a while; 
but he still claimed he had done right. 
Upon his nomination to the Presideucy 
in 1872, the stormy campaign and 



72. vitupcrous abuse of the press, together 
with tlic sickness and deatli of his 
wife, and lastly liis defeat at the elec- 
tion, and his continued mental labors, 
all culminated in the wreck of his 
noble intellect and his sad death. But 
whatever may have been said of Mr. 
Greeley during the excitement of a 
political campaign, no man could bear 
him any malice, for his character was 
singularly pure and his nature one of 
the most frank and unselfish upon the 
])olitical records of any nation or 
people. 

Wm. H. Saaanl 

' Wm. ITenry Seward, LL.D., an eminent 
American statesman, died at Auburn, 
N. y. .\t a very early age Mr. Sew- 
ard evinced a great fondness for 
books by running away from home to 
go to school, and at nine years of age he 
was sent to Farmers' Hall Academy 
in Go.shen, and before he was fifteen 
he was pronounced ready for college. 
In 1816 he entered Union College, fiom 
which he graduated with high honors. 
He studied law with John Anthon, in 
New York, and afterward with Ogden 
Hoflman and John Duer, in Goshen, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1822, 
and the year following he formed a 
partnership with Judge Miller, in Au- 
burn, whose daughter he married in 
1824. He soon became distinguished 
at the bar for originality and inde- 
pendence, and shortly acquired a large 
practice and high reputation. In 1827 
jlr. Seward became the champion of 
the Greeks, and by his eloquence se- 
cured large contributions to the funds 
raised in this country for their defense. 
In 1828 Mr. Seward was called to pre- 
side over one of the laro;est political 
conventions ever held in the State of 
New York, which duty he discharged 
with great ability. In 1830 Mr. Sew- 
ard was elected State Senator by the 
anti-Masonic party, and at the same 
time he became ex officio a judge in 
the liighest Court in the State, and the 
peer of venerable and distinguished 
men, and he then began his active la- 
bors in the field of reform, all the re- 
forms of the day receiving his earnest 
support. In 1833 Mr. Seward visited 
Europe, and his published letters— 80 
in number — written during his few 
weeks' travel, added greatly to his 
growing popularity. When but 33 
years of age he was nominated for 
Governor of New York, but his youth 
was the argument against him, and he 
was defeated by Marcy. In 1838 he 
was elected Governor by 10,000 major- 
ity over Gov. Marcy, and took his seat 
at 37 years of age, as the first Whig 
Governor of the Empire State, and his 
inliuence was largely felt in shaping 
the political issues which followed 
during the next 20 years ; also, in re- 
forming many erroneous statutes, and 
expunging some inhuman and unjust 
laws from the statute books. Mr. Sew- 
ard's career as a lawyer was a very 
brilliant one, and his gubernatorial 
administration was marked with many 
noble and reformatory acts. In poli- 
tics Mr. Seward was a Whig, and 
acted with his party in all its measures 
until 1852, when he refused to support 
the platform, although approving its 



1872. candidate for President— Gen. Scott. 
Mr Seward, in 1848, took a decided 
stand for freedom against slavery, 
wliicli he subsequently so graphically 
expressed in liis great speech on the 
"hrciircssililr Coiifliet." Mr. Reward 
w.is rl.vir i u: ;':.. Ihlir.l States Sen- 
ate' ill 1 s l;- III lied in the Sen- 

:'tr 1:11 !i'- ; ; . ■ '\ Secretary of 

Stall' liy I'l. jiliit l.iiiciln. He was 
a champion of the Itepublican party 
in the Senate almost from its first rise, 
and fought valiantly for its measures 
for freedom. As a "statesman he had 
no superior, and he filled the office of 
Secretary of State with great ability 
and acceiitanee to the Government. 
At till ((iiiviiition which nominated 
Aliniliiiiii I. inn, In for President, Mr. 
Siwaril ii'iiviil 173 votes for the of- 
fice. At Hie same time the President 
was assassinated, an accomplice at- 
tempted tiie life of Mr. Seward, who 
was upon a sick-bed. He was stabbed 
in the throat, and his life was de- 
spaired of for some time, but he finally 
recovered, and remained in the Cabi- 
net till the close of Mr. Johnson's 
Presidency, carrying out the policy of 
Mr. Lincoln and the Government, al- 
though often assaulted by politicians 
and severely criticized by the public; 
yet time has confirmed muny acts, 
which at the period of gieat excite- 
ment seemed inconsistent with the 
principles of his party. In 18ti9 Mr. 
Seward journeyed through California 
and Mexico, and in August, 1870, he, 
with several members of his family, 
set out upon a tour around the world, 
visiting all the principal countries, and 
was everywhere received with great 
honor, and everywhere making him- 
self familiar with the Governments, 
policy, races, productions, and com- 
merce of the countries he visited, and 
returned from his tour October !lth, 
1871, and prepared a narrative of his 
journey, which was published soon 
after his death. Mr. Seward was a 
voluminous writer, but his speeches, 
essays, and State papers have not as 
yet been fully collected. 

Eihcnn Forrest. 
" Dee. 12. Edwin Forrest, an eminent 
American tragedian, died in Philadel- 
phia, his native city. At the age of 
eleven Mr. Forrest exhibited a strong 
aptitude and taste for declamation and 
tragedy, and participated in representa- 
tions before the Amateur Dramatic 
Club of Philadelphia, of which he was 
a member. His first appearance upon 
the regular stage was in the Walnut 
Street Theater, Nov. 27, 1820, acting 
the part of Norval in Home's play 
of " Douglass." In 1825 he first met 
Edward Kean, whose attention and 
commendation he attracted while act- 
ing Ia(jo to his Othello. From this 
time forw.ard his success was assured, 
and he soon after made an engage- 
ment at $800 per annum. His first 
great triumph was in the Bowery, 
N. Y., where he remained nearly three 
years, and then he aecejjted an en- 
gagement at the Park, where he re- 
mained, and long enjoyed a high i)op- 
ularity. At the age of 28 .Mr. Forrest 
was a man of magnificent personal 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1872. presence and masculine beauty. He 
possessed a voice of marvelous power 
and sweetness, and enjoyed the un- 
liouiided popularity of liis country as a 
tr:is;i-di;in, witli tlic fullest conlidence 
in liis own iiowcrs that he was the 
prc;it('stofiiviiu,' tr.i^r.H:ins. In 1835 he 
faiird lor i:iirn|ii. ; and in October, 
IH'iii, lir a|)]irii('d at Drury Lane as 
Sjiurf/rnx ill tiic " (Gladiator "—a play 
])ri)duccd in ls31, and written with a 
special view to fit his peculiar talents. 
In London Mr. Forrest became the lion 
ol' the hour, and at that time received 
esp.'eially kind treatment from Mr. Mac- 
nady, who afterward became his most 
bitter enemy and rival. In 1837 he mar- 
ried Miss Catherine Norton Sinclair, an 
English lady, and soon returned to 
America, making his first professional 
appearance in Philadelphia, where he 
was enthusiastically received, afterward 
visiti ni,' New York and other cities.where 
his popularity steadily increased. In 
184') he made his second visit to London 
in company with Mrs. Forrest, and they 
were welcomed in the best and most 
intelligent society in London and Edin- 
burgh. At the Princess Theater, Lon- 
don, Mr. Forrest was hissed in his 
]ilay of Miiihcth—a, character vrholly 
unsuitcd to h s style of acting— which 
Mr. Forrest highly resented, and at- 
tributed to the influence of Macready, 
and hastily indulged in the most bit- 
ter aspersions against him. He visited 
the theater in Jidinhurgh where Mac- 
ready was playing Hamlet, and stood 
up conspicuously in a private bos and 
hissed him. This rash act nearly cost 
Mr. Forrest his great popularity in 
Groat Britain. About two years after 
his return to America, Macready was 
playing Muchcth in Astor Place Opera 
House, N. Y., when a mob, composed 
of Mr. Forrest's friends, assaulted 
him, when a fearful scene ensued, re- 
sulting in killing 22 men and wound- 
ing 36 others. The succeeding year 
Mrs. Forrest sued for a divorce, which 
•was granted in her favor, on all points, 
two years afterward, witli an alimony 
of $3,000 a year, the payment of which 
Mr. Forrest resisted for twenty years. 
Mr. Forrest continued his career as an 
actor till 1858, amassing a large fortune, 
■which he used extensively in the pur- 
chase of a fine residence and a mag- 
nificent dramatical library in Philadel- 
phia. In I860 Mr. Forrest again re- 
turned to the stage, and continued 
playing, at intervals, till 1871, when ill- 
ness compelled him to retire. 
" Judge Bernard's removal and disqualifi- 
cation for corruption in otBce. 



George CatUii. 
Dec. 33. George Catlin, an American 
artist and author, died, at the age of 
76. In 1829 Mr. Catlin began studying 
the life and habits of the Aborigines of 
Anierira, with the view of preserving 
their history u])on canvas. In 1831 he 
visited most of the tribes east of the 
Mississippi, and painted the portraits 
of their chiefs and celebrities. H 
visited Black Hawk and painted his 
portrait. He next descended the 
Missouri River from the mouth of the 
Yellowstone to St. Louis, with two 
men, in a canoe, steering it himself the 



lole distance, 
ne, the nurac 



I 


ling the 




,^ York 




1 subse- 


, , 111 II 


1 ntitlod 


ni; til 


North 


In ls4i 


he went 


painlin 


j:s, which 



ye; 



In is-i-i lie r\pl..i,d the inleiior of 
Siiuth Anicrii i inti rnrw iiii; its various 
trilMS ol ^\ild Indi ins Mr. Catlin 
traveled very extensively in his own 
land, and was considered the best in- 
formed man in the world on Indian 
life and customs, lie was the author 
of several valuable books. 

Book-sewing machine patented by Henry 
Thompson, of Connecticut. 

United States had 60,853 miles of rail- 
road. 

A fatal and unknown distemper visited 
Brazil and carried off, in three towns, 
13,000 out of 18,000 inhabitants. 

Feb. Death of a centenarian. Miss Becky 
Kitchen, of Southampton Co., Va., 
aged 120 years. 

Feb. 17. Extensive fire in Sing Sing, N. 
Y., $150,000 damages. 

March 2. Death of Eld. Jacob Knapp, 
the famous revivalist, at Kockford, 111. 

Wreck of the ''Atlantic." 
April 1. Wreck of the ocean steamer 
AtlantU: 535 lives were lost. 

Modoc Massacre. 
April U. Gen. R. A. Canby was 
murdered by the Modoc Indians in the 
Lava Beds of N. California. He was a 
graduate of West Point in 1S39, in the 
same class with Gen. Hallcek, and 
served in the Florida war from 1839 to 
1842. He served through the Mexican 
war as First Lieutenant, Captain, 
Lieutenant-Colonel, Major of Infantry, 
etc., and attained distinction for his 
bravery and purity of character. He 
was employed by the Government to 
bring the Modncs to accept the terms 
ofi'ered tlniii l>v the (iovernment; in 
which cxjH ilitii.n, tlir.mgh the eflbrt to 
use practiealile measures and moral 
suasion with the savages, this noble 
and gallant oiHcer lost his life. 

Colfax Massacre. 

Massacre of over 100 negroes at Colfax, 
Grant Parish, La., by the "White 
League" setting fire to the Court-house 
where nearly 400 negroes were con- 
gregated for defense, and shooting 
them down when they attempted to 
escape. 

Salmon P. Chase. 

May 7. Death of Hon. Salmon P. Chase, 
LL.D., an American statesman. Gov. 
of Ohio, Secretarv of the Treasury, and 
Chief- Justice of the United States. 
The first act which brought Mr. Chase 
into pulilieal notice was his defense of 
Jas. t;. i;iriie\ , :is tlie jircservcr of his 
life, -when the latter was attacked by 
a pro-slavei y mub in I'^SO in Cincin- 
nati, during which Mr. Birney's paper 
was destrovcd. Also, in 1837, Mr. 
Chase's nolde defense of a fugitive 



slave woman, upon the occasion of 
which one of the oldest and ablest 
lawyers in the Court remarked : 
"Tiiei-e is a ])iomis:ng young man 
who his Jul ruined himself " From 
this tinu' onward Mr. Chase was a 
bold, able, and eonsistent opiwnent of 
the slave i)ciwer. \'. i l.iie; :i iialional 
influence in the I ; :: ' •. Senate, 
and in all his h ;: -i m > . .ons and 
judicial acts carrxiiiL; out llu. pnueiples 
"of humanity and justice which made 
his name a power to his party and a 
teiror to his opponents. Mr. Chase 
was the acknowledged champion of 
the anti-slavery party, defending them 
and building up their jjrinciples with 
his masterly logic and legal prowess. 
In the Senate he made his talents 
particularly noticeable by his able 
advocacy of economy in the national 
finances of the Pacific Railroad by the 
shortest route, the homestead move- 
ment, cheap postage, ocean navigation, 
etc. In 1815 Mr. Chase was elected 
Governor of Ohio, and at the close of 
his first term he was renominated 
Governor by acclamation, and elected 
by the largest vote ever given for a 
Governor in Ohio. His appointment as 
Secretary of the Treasury in President 
Lincoln's Cabinet was the crowning op- 
portunity for displaying his greatest 
ability; and his wonderful success in 
conducting the financial ship through 
the storms and tempests, and over the 
rocks nf a jirotracted civil war was a 
constant and happy surprise both to his 
friends and the nation. In 1864 Presi- 
dent Lincoln nominated him for Chief- 
Justice of the Supreme Court, as suc- 
cessor to Roger P. Taney, deceased, 
which was immediatelv confirmed by 
the Senate. This position he filled 
with great ability and dieuity, al- 
though taking the seat witli jihysical 
strength greatly impaired by the 
stupendous labors of the past three 
years. Mr. Chase was called to some 
duties which had fallen upon no other 
Chief -Justice presiding before him. 
The President of the United States 
was tried for impeachment, and al- 
though party spirit ran high, no faidt 
■was found -with his course as presid- 
ing officer. That Mr. Chase died a 
poorer man than when he first accepted 
office (and this in days of great polit- 
ical corruption and dishonesty, and 
when, ■with a word or turn of the 
hand he might have commanded mil- 
lions) speaks more in his praise than 
volumes written in his honor or costly 
marble monimients erected to his 
memory. 

Oakes Ames. 
May 8. Oakes Ames, M.C., an extensive 
manufacturer, railroad builder, and 
financial operator, died in Eaton, Mass. 
He was a large stockholder in the U. 
P. Railroad, and contracted to build the 
greater part of the east section of the 
road, transferring his contract to a 
corporation called the " Credit Mobilier 
of America," of which he was one of 
the largest stockholders. With James 
Brooks, of New Y'ork. Mr. Ames was 
censured by the vote of the House of 
Representatives for the " Credit 
Mobilier" transaction. Mr. Ames was 
reputed to be -worth, at the time of hia 



CHRONOLOGY. 



809 



death, between five and six million 
dollars. 

Lewis Tappan. 
June 21. Deatb of Lewis Tappan, a 
zealous, consistent, and able advocate 
of anti-slavery principles. Mr. Tappan , 
■with his brother Arthur, eatahlislud 
the Journal of Commerce in 1S3^*. He 
was also associated, with his l)rothor, 
in mercantile business, and in the finan- 
cial crash of 1837, the firm failed, 
with liabilities for upward of a mil- 
lion dollars, which were afterward paid 
in full. Mr. Tappan was subjected to 
great opprobrium, and often violent 
persecution, for his principles; also 
personal violence at the hands of a 
mob, which sacked his house and 
destroyed his furniture. He was the 
most prominent founder of the Amer- 
ican Missionary Society, also the Anti- 
Slavery Missionary Organization, and 
was successively its treasurer and 
president. He was publishing the life 
of his brother, and had just sent the 
sheets to the press, when he was struck 
with jiaralysis. 

Hiram Pcnaers. 
June 37. Hiram Powers, an American 
sculptor, died at Florence, Italy. Mr. 
Powers acquired his first knowledge of 
sculpture from a Prussian sculptor in 
Cincinnati, who was engaged on a bust 
of Geo. Jackson. Mr. Powers after- 
ward had charge of the waxwork depot 
of the Western Museum of that place, 
for several years. After a short stay in 
Washington, where he modeled the 
busts of some prominent men, Mr. 
Nicholas Longworlh helping him, and, 
with what money he had saved from 
his earnings, he visited Florence. 
After a year's residence in Italy, he 
produced his statue of " Eve," which 
masterpiece secured him a reputation. 
The next year he produced the model 
of his " Greek Slave," the most popular 
of all his works. He continued to 
work and rise, and when the Crystal 
Palace in England requested represent- 
ative works from the world's chief 
artists, Powers produced " America," 
which added fresh laurels to his fame. 
Mr. Powers invented a process of 
modeling in plaster which greatly 
aided and expedited the labors of the 
sculptor. 

American Victory. 

June 39. The Great Rifle Contest at 
Dollymount, near Dublin, Ireland ; the 
American team beating; Col. Bodine 
making the last shot. Gross American 
total, 967; gross Irish total, 939 ; differ- 
ence in favor of America, 38. 

July. Beecher and Tilton scandal breaks 
out. 

Great Sncnv-Storm. 
Great and extensive snow-storm and 
severe cold in Minnesota and Nebraska. 
Very many lives were lost. 

Dixon Bridge Disaster. 

Palling of the bridge at Dixon. 111., which 

was covered with people witnessing a 

baptismal rite iL the river. 100 lives 

were lost. 



Salary Grab Bill. 
Salaries of the Government officers and 
Jlembers of Congress increased, to 
which great objection was raised 
throughout the country. The Members 
of Congress refusing to draw their in- 
creased pay, the jiortion of the bill 
relating to them was repealed. 

Great Storm. 

Aug. A great storm raged along the 
Atlantic cost. 100 vessels went down 
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and ITti 
sailing vessels and 13 steamers lost in 
the Gulf of Mexico. 

Aug. 37. National Temperance Society 
held at Saratoga, N. Y. 

The Great Financial Crash. 
Sept. 19. Upon this dny culminated the 
pent-up volcano of financial corruption 
which had for years been gathering its 
forces. For months it had been feared, 
and with terrific force its fury was now 
poured upon Wall Street, utterly para- 
lyzing all business. The final crash was 
the news that the banking-liouse of 
Jay Cooke & Co., the best-known and 
most enterprising house in the coun- 
try, had failed, and that the Wash- 
ington and Philadelphia branches of 
the firm had also gone under. Deposits 
ot corporations and private persons 
were held by this firm to the amount 
of $5,000,000. The stock markets 
broke, and securities were sacrificed ii 
the most reckless manner. Five im- 
portant banks followed in the crasli, 
and ruin and consternation spread 
throughout the country. The credit 
and prosperity of the country received 
a severe shock. The Secretary of the 
Treasury made the announcement, at the 
opening" of the Forty-thiid Congress, 
"That to meet the falling off in the 
revenues of the Government, he must 
needs have recourse to taxation." 
Oct. 3. Execution at Fort Klamath, 
Oregon, of the Modoc Indians who 
murdered Gen. Canby and Peace Com- 
missioner Thomas — "Captain Jack," 
" Schonchin," " Boston Charlie," and 
"Black Jim." 

A Great Hunter. 

Oct. 33. Death of Robert Sixbury, at 
the age of 110 years. He was a noted 
hunter, living on the " John Brown 
Tract," in Jefferson County, N. Y. He 
acquired a great reputation as a hunt- 
er in New York, where he had slain 
over 2,200 deer. It was said he used 
alcoholic stimulants to excess, and 
"never with any conscientious scru- 
ples." At 80 years of age he met with 
an accident which necessitated the 
amputation of one of his leg.s, and he 
assisted the doctor in the operation, 
which he survived for a period of .30 
years, and retained his vigor to the 
last. 

Cyrus Wakefield. 

Oct. Sn. Deatb of Cyrus Wakefield, an 
extensive importer and m.anufacturer, 
of Boston, Mass. He originated and es- 
tablished the rattan business in South 
Reading, Mass., where his business 
covered seven acres of ground, and the 



pay-roll of which foots up to $35,000 
per month. The name of the town 
was changed to Wakelicld in his 
honor, to which he had cuntriljuted a 
town hall, costing $100,000. 

John C. Heenan. 
Oct. 28. John C. Heenan, a noted pugil- 
ist and prize-fighter, died. He was 
called the " Benicia Boy," because he 
worked in a blacksmiiirs shop in Be- 
nicia, Cal., at the time he first entered 
the list of " prize-fighters." His first 
"priz' -fight" wa> with John Morrissey, 
in 18.'J>i"— Morrissiv winning. The 
most notable feature in Ueenan'a sub- 
sequent professional career was the 
p irt he took in the great '' Interna- 
tional Match " between England and 
America — Sayers appearing as the 
ch;impion of the former, and Heenan 
of the latter. This brutal and dis- 
gnu'eful fisht was witnessed by a vast 
multitude from all parts of the king- 
dnm and the Continent, including also 
many from America, and British lords 
and noblemen not a few. The affair 
resulted in a drawn battle. Afterward 
Heenan was beaten in England by 
King, and never after entered the ring. 

The "Virginius." 

Oct. 31. Capture of the Virginius, an 
Ameriean ship, near Jamaica, by the 
Spanish steamer Tornado, and taken 
to Santiago de Cuba, with 170 passen- 
gers, 101 of which were shot by the 
Spanish authorities of Cuba under the 
pretext that they were filibusters. 
The United States and British Consuls 
protested in vain. 

Nov. Loss of the steamship Tille du 
Earre frnm Europe to New York. 226 
lives lost. 

Jolui P. Hah: 

Nov. 18. Death of John Parker Hale, 
LL.D.. an American Senator and di- 
plomatist. He was a graduate of 
Bowdoin College and was appointed 
United States District Attorney for 
New Hampshire. He was elected by 
the Democrats to the United States 
Congre.ss, where, in opposition to the 
sentiments of his party — then in the 
height of its power — he took sides 
with the anti-slavery element. In 1847 
he was elected to the United States 
Senate, where he betrayed the same 
bold and intrepid spirit which char- 
acterized his stand in Congress, by 
opposing the compromise measures of 
Henry Clay, and exposing the intrigues 
of the slave power with the eloquence 
and earnestness of an Adams. In 1853 
he was the candidate of the Free Soil 
party for President. Mr. Hale was an 
able and valuable Member of the 
United States Senate for 16 years. 
President Lincoln appointed him, in 
1803, Minister to Spain, which post 
he tilled for four years, and returning 
from which, with broken health, he 
repaired to his home among the New 
Hampshire hills; since which time he 
had taken no part in public affairs. 

Stephen Smith. 

Nov. Death of Stephen Smith, a noted 

colored citizen of Germantown, Pa. 



810 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1873. At tlie age of 18 he purchased his 
own freedom, iinil eventually acquired 
a large fortuue, which he used with 
great liberality for the benefit of his 
race. He was a prcaclier in the 
Methodist Church, and built, at his own 
expei.se, the " Zion jMethodist Churcli," 
of Philadelphia. 
" Nov. 22. Tweed sentenced to twelve 
years imprisonment. 

Lauis P. Gibhard. 
" Nov. 30. Lewis P. Gibhard, M.D., an 
eminent physician and medical writer, 
died at the age of 83 years. He was 
the oldest medical practitioner In 
Philadelphin, and was also the leader 
in e-tablishini; the first temperance so- 
ciety in I'eunsylvaiiia — numbering 
three persons, cliairman, secretary, and 
tre.isurer — iu liis own parlors. 

Louis Agassiz. 
" Dec. 14. Death of Louis Agassiz, the 
most eminent of modern scientists, 
also a naturalist and author, at Cam- 
bridge, Mass. 

Sarah Grimke. 

" Dec. Death of Sarah Grimke, an elo- 
quent and early advocate of anti- 
slavery principles. She was a daugh- 
ter of Chief-.Justice Grimke, of South 
Carolina, and a member of the Society 
of Friends. She, together with her 
sister, Angelina, emancipated their 
slaves, and came North to lecture on 
slavery. They were educated and ac- 
complished ladies, and their purity of 
character and deep-toned piety gave 
them great influence in their public 
course. They were ready writers as 
we 1 as eh)quent speakers, and were 
also among the earliest advocates of 
the enlargement of woman's sphere. 

" Dec. Escape of Tweed from the New 
York County jail. 

" A decision was rendered by the Su- 
preme Court of Illinois in the case of 
;Myra Bradwell against the State of Il- 
linois, refusing her a license to practice 
law, on the ground that she was a 
woman. 

" The population of Patagonia in 1873 
was !s69. 

" Antnmitio signal telegraph was intro- 
duced and applied in New York. 

" The free postal <lelivery was adopted iu 
all cities containing '20,000 inhabit- 
ants, and the penny postal cards intro- 
duced. 

March of Mexico. 
" During the year 1873, Mexico made some 
gigantic strides toward the freedom 
for which she had so long struggled. 
In October she enacted a law severing 
Church and State, and declared, by 
civil enactments, " that henceforth no 
religious denominations were to be 
specially favored by the Government." 
"That no religious corporation may 
possess any property, except under dis- 
tinct provisions rec'i;;nized in the Con- 
stitution." Religious oaths in courts 
o justice were aholished, and a simple 
declaration substituted in all cases. 
"That marringe was hencefurth to be 
purely a 'civil contract,' and its legiti- 
mization an afl'air of the civil authorities 



1873. alone." " That the State refuses to recog- 
nize any monastic vows as binding, and 
that any person belonging to any re- 
ligious order can leave it at any time 
of his own free will." 



lVoman\ Crusade. 
1874. This year witnessed the most wide-spread 
and intense excitement upon the sub- 
ii'.'t of ti-uipcrance. It began in a 
small tow n in Ohio, and was "the result 
of the I'llorls of a band of women who 
visited the saloons, holding prayer- 
meetings and singing religious songs 
and hymns. When refused admittance 
to the saloons, they held their meetings 
upon the sidewalk in front. In some 
places the saloon-keepers used violence 
in driving the women from their place 
of business and from the sidewalks, 
and in a few instances mobs of lawless 
men congregated and insulted the 
women with coarse and brutal language; 
but in almost every instance, after two 
or three attempts, the proprietors would 
politely open their doors and invite the 
ladies in, and often seated their rooms 
in anticipation of their visit, and aided 
them in every respectful way to carry 
on the meetings. In most places, as a 
result of these meetings, the majority 
of the saloons were closed, and the 
proprietors converted to the temperance 
cause, many of them professing to be 
converted to Christianity. 

The efiects of these meetings were 
most solemn indeed, and often duiing 
the exercises all business in the town 
would be suspended, and the people 
would gather in multitudes to witness 
the unusual and deeply impressive 
scenes. Usually the women met 
together in their churches, and held a 
season of prayer, and appointed their 
leaders, arranging their programme in 
a systematic manner. They then 
marched in a procession, during the 
tolling of bells, and the solemn hush of 
the multitudes, men uncovering their 
heads, and all countenances betraying 
the solemnity of the occasion. The lead- 
ing and influential ladies of the towns 
who were church- members usually 
gave their influence to, and aided the 
movement, and their husbands and 
the ministers of the evangelical 
churches sustained them with their 
countenance and prestige, thereby 
giving character to the unusual and 
eccentric proceeding. Dr. Dio Lewis 
gave the movement his hearty co-oper- 
ation ; and large and enthusiastic 
meetings were held, which, for a time, 
swept everything before Ihini. spread- 
ing East and West, until nearly cv( I'V 
Northern State was infectcil with the 
excitement. The results, for a time, 
seemed to be very flattering, and a 
fresh impetus was given to the temper- 
ance cause. But the reaction which 
follows all great excitements, in a 
measure followed this ; yet, in Ohio 
the cause of iutemiieianee in many 
towns received a death-blow, and 
hundreds of thousan.ls thnMiuhout the 
country signed tin' ]il. d^r. Hut the 
growing conviction aiuonL; temperance 
people, that this was not the most 
judicious manner of promoting the 
cause, resulted in a gradual decline of 
the movement. The most effectual and 



lasting results were the co-operatitn 
which it aroused amcnig the ministers 
and churches and the creation of a 
healthy public sentiment in favor of 
teni Iterance. 
Bursting of a reservoir at Middlefield, 
Mass., destroying a great amount of 
life and property C08 

King Kalakaiia. 
Visit of King Kalakaua, of the Sandwich 



First inata 



^ n:i,n,,,l hnij filtering the United tjtaten. 
Senate ]ia^-iil a bill to resume specie 

The revision of the United States Statutes 

adopted by Congress. 
Inflation ot the currency voted by Con- 
Bill to increase greenbacks $400,000,000 
Coiniironiise currency bill signed by the 

Kellogg Government overthrown in 
Louisiana and restored by the President 
in five days. 

Mary Anne Hawkins. 

Mar 3. Death of Mary Anne Hawkins, 

a noted philanthropist and friend of 

JViciidless \v..n..n and children. She 
\va-. one (if the Ininiders and President 
ol llic I'c male (iiiai'clian Society and 
Home for the Friendless in New Y'ork 
city. 

Charles Sumner. 
Mar. 11. Charles Sumner, the eminent 
American statesman, scholar, and au- 
thor, died in Washington. Mr. Sum- 
ner was a graduate of Harvard CoUese, 
having i)reii,,uvlv been a i>n|jil at the 
Boston Laiin S.h,.,,!. lie ^'lidied law 
under Mr. Jnslie,. m,,iv. and was ad- 



llluieiL lo NIC liar la I -- , | ; |ii. negau 
pi'actiee in |;i.-.|,a], ami umi, surpassed 
the yniina ne n in lii. laof, ..i,,„. Hjg 
first public olliee uas i;e,M,rler of the 
United States Court. He published 
three volumes of Judge Story's decis- 
ions, at the same time editing the 
American Jurist. He lectured before 
the Law School in the absence of 
.lud-e Slniy and Prof Greenleaf, the 
hist three winters after his entering 
the profession, and with so much suc- 
cess that he was urged to take a pro- 
fessor's chair. In 1837 he visited Eu- 
rope, and became acquainted with the 
mo-t eminent jurists, publicists, and 
distinguished scientists, and visited 
the highest courts, and both Houses 
of the English Parliament. In 1843 
he began his career as a public lec- 
turer, lie opposed the Mexican war, 
anil the i)ni-slavery interests which 
indueid ii, with great ability and elo- 
iiuenee. In isli; hc announced before 
the W hi- Convention bis uncompro- 
mising hosiilily to slavery. In 1848 
Mr. Sumner abandoned theWhig party 
and allied himself to the Free Soilers. 
Mr. Sumner was a voluminous writer, 
though everything from his pen was 
carefully prepared and retouched till it 
satisfied his fastidious tastes. He suc- 
ceede<l Daniel Webster in the United 
States Siaaite. and in his political 
jiiiiiei|i]e-, he sto'jd aluiost aloue in the 
tSen;ile ihaniber. From the first his 
political ojiponents feared his power 



CHRONOLOGY. 



811 



and eloquence to the extent that they 
never allowed him to gain the floor, 
when possible by strategy or device to 
prevent it, and he was for nine months 
a Member of the Senate before he 
found an opportunity to make his first 
speech. His great speech on " Tlie 
Crime against Kanfas," made on the 
I'Jth of Alay, was the direct cause of 
the barbarous assault upon him by 
Preston S. Brooks, a Member of Con- 
gress from South Carolina. This act of 
blooly violence transpired on the 33d 
of May — the only instance on record 
of a great and honored statesman be- 
ing biutally struck down while in his 
seat in the Senate Chamber of his 
country's capital, and left there lying 
prostrate and insensible until removed 
by his friends. The injuries Mr. 
Sumner received at the hands of this 
ruffian debarred him from public 
duty for four years. He was a man- 
to be feared, as well as admired, for 
his masterly eloquence when directed 
against any great national evil left no 
nook or hiding-place for its ghastly 
form. To his great learning he added 
the most elegant accomplishments and 
the sternest purity of purpose and in- 
tegrity of character. And of Charles 
Sumner it may also be added, his 
hands were clear from bribes. 

Mar. 13. Death of Christian Sharps, in- 
ventor of the celebrated Sharps' rifle. 

Mar. Iliot in Pennsylvania by the work- 
men of the Erie Railroad at Susque- 
hanna, but was quelled by State troops 
without bloodshed COS 

First Regular Lady Physician. 
Mar. Death of Mrs. Van Tassell, a mis- 
sionary among the Ottawa Indians, and 
a physician, commencing her medical 
studies at 58 years of age. She was 
the first looman ever admitted to the full 
course of medical lectures in this coun- 
try. She spent several years as a 
medical practitioner in Memphis, Tenn. 

Second Chicago Fire. 
Another extensive fire occurred in the 
newly-built portion of the city, destroy- 
ing a great number of very flue build- 
ings. The loss was estimated at 
$1,000,000., 

Gerrit Smith. 
Gcrrit. Smith, an eminent American 
philanthropist, reformer, and states- 
man, died in New York city. His 
father, Peter Smith, was at one time 
associated with John J. Astor in the 
fur trade, and was subsequently the 
largest land -holder in New York. 
Gerrit graduated at Hamilton College 
in 1818 with the highest honors of his 
class. Upon his 21st birthday his 
father presented him with a deed of 
the entire township of Florence in 
Oneida Co., N. Y. He studied law, 
that he might the better manage his 
large interests, and also that he might 
be able to aid the poor and unfortunate. 
At a very early age he was employed 
by his father in the management of his 
immense landtd estates, and soon his 
father gave the entire business into his 
hands; and although the youngest son, 
his father made him the executor of 



his will. His integrity of character 
was so great and so well established, 
that John Jacob Astor loaned him the 
sum of $250,000, with only a verbal 
promise that he would execute mort- 
gages on certain tracts of land as se- 
curity for its repayment, not requiring 
even a memorandum of the trans- 
action. Mr. Smith, the owner of large 
tracts of land in f .rty-two ,iiit of the 
sixty counties of the Stiitc. Inrnming 
convinced tliat l:iiiil iii(iihi|„ily \v;is a 
wrong to tile jioor, i)ri:cre>le.| in ls43 
to give away 200,(i(i0 acns. in parcels 
of about 50 acres, to deserving poor 
white and black men, and in many 
cases aiding them to erect cheap and 
comfortable houses, requiring of them 
only that they live upon and cultivate 
their lands. Mr. Smith founded the 
Orphans' Asylum iu Oswego, N. Y., 
and helped to maintain it. He also 
established, at a later period, a farm- 
ing region in Essex County for 
colored people, and presented John 
Brown (" Ossawattomie ") a farm, that 
he might teach the colored people 
how to till their lands in a northern 
clime. His pfts of land and money 
continued until, at the time of his 
death, he retained scarcely one-eighth 
of his original estate. Mr. Smith was 
one of the very first to become Inter- 
ested in the condition of the African 
slaves in this country, and was one of 
the most genuine abolitionists to the 
time of his death, and a zealous and 
able defender of their rights and in- 
terests. He gave liberally of his means 
to aid the anti-slavery cause, and l)is 
voice and pen were ever used in the 
advocacy of reforms. He was a thorough 
and consistent temperance man, and 
an advocate of peace, and labored 
heartily for the emancipation of woman 
from hfr legal disabilities, and advo- 
cated her right to suffrage, and sought 
earnestly for reform in the management 
of prisons. In 1852 many voters of 
both political parties in Madison and 
Oswego Counties invited him to ac- 
cept a nomination for Congress, and 
accepting, he was elected over both 
the \Vhig and Democratic candidates, 
lie remained in Congress only through 
the first session ; his health being 
somewhat infirm, and anxious for 
rest, he retired to his home. While 
in Congress he advocated almost single- 
handed and alone his views on slavery, 
temperance, homesteads, reciprocity 
treaty, and the Nebraska bill. Mr. 
Smith's hospitality at home was un- 
bounded, and the black man and the 
white man were equal guests at his 
board. His most important books 
were his " Speeches in Connress, by 
Gerrit Smith," " The Theologies," 
"Nature's Theologies," and "Letters 
to Albert Barnes." 
Death of Mrs. Beaton, a centenarian of 
SouthamiJtou Co., Va., aged 10-i years. 

Siamese Twitis. 

Death of the Siamese twins, Chinif and 
Eng, at Mount Airy, N. C. These un- 
fortunate creatures were for twenty- 
five years publicly exhibited in Europe 
and Ameiica, when after acquiring a 
.ioiut fortune of about $80,0(10, and at 
the age of 4.j, they settled down as 



farmers in North Carolina, and married 

two si.sters, liy whom they had each a 
nniii' I 1 r ^ Iiil 'i rn, two of the num- 
ber 1 I,, :■ I ^1 dumb. They were 
cdmii • ■ ! ' I irf at the side by a 
fl(sli\ > 1) ! ill: i nils l);ind about eight 
iiubes in length, compelling them to 
partly face each nther. Chang's death 
oceurrci^l about two and a half hours 
before Kng's, anel was caused by con- 
gestion of the lungs, and Kng's death 
was from no apparent cause, but the 
nervous s'lock jji'oduced by the death 
of bis lirother. 
Death (if Jlaj.-Gen. Morgan L. Smith, 
United Stales Vols., a gallant officer in 
the Mexican and late civil war, and for- 
mer United States Consul at Honolulu, 
lie served in most of the battles in the 
Southwest under Gen. Grant. Gen. 
Sherman said of him : " He was one of 
the bravest men in action 1 ever knew." 



Millard Fillmore. 
Death of Millard Fillmore, thirteenth 
President of the United States. Mr. 
Fillmore was born at Sumner Hill, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., January 7, 1800. 
His lather was a farmer in humble 
circumstances, and unable to give 
his son an education more than he 
could receive at the common t^'i trict 
scliools. At the age of fourteen, Millard 
was apprenticed to a clotliier, about 
loo miles from his home, in the wilds 
of Western New York. Here he found 
access to a small library, and his 
evenings were spent in reading. Soon 
his thirst for knowledge became in- 
satiable; he read the best works upon 
history, biography, and oratory which 
could be procured by his limited oppor- 
tunities. The elevating influences of 
his reading afiected- his manners, his 
speech, and his whole character. At- 
tracted by the prepossessing appearance 
of the young clothier, Judge Wood 
made his acquaintance, and advised 
him to study law. Having no means 
of his own, or friends who could help 
him, he could but state his cirenm- 
stances, and decline the kindly advice. 
But the Judge, having so much co i- 
fidencc in the natur.al abilities and in- 
tegrity of young Fillmore, oflFered to 
take him into his own office, and loan 
him the money required to complete 
his outfit and meet his expenses. The 
generous offer was most gratefully ac- 
cepted, and he immediately entered 
ujjon the arduous undertaking. 

During the winter months he taught 
school that he mi^ht not incur too 
heavy a debt, ir burden the generosity 
cf his benefactor. .Vfter two years' 
study in Judge Wood's office he entered 
a law-office in Buffalo, and in the same 
m.anner he prosecuted his studies, 
alternately teaching or by some active 
labor supporting himself. At the age 
of 33 he was admitted to the Court of 
Common Pleas. He now commenced 
the practice of law in the little village 
of Aurora, on the banks of Cayuga 
Lake, and in 1836 he married Miss 
Abigail Powers, daughter of Rev. 
Lemuel Powers, a lady of refincmer t 
and great moral worth. 

In 1839, Mr. Fillmore took his seat 
in the House of Assembly of the State 
of New York, as the Representative 



812 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1874. from Erie County, and the same year 
lie entered into partnership with an 
elder member of the har in Buffalo. 
In the Assembly, Mr. Fillmore gave his 
sympatliies and vote with the Whig 
party, and in the autumn of 1S33 he 
vras elected to a seat in the United 
States Congress, which he filled for two 
years. In 18:37 he was re-elected to 
Congress, and industrio.islv applieil 
himself to the, lutirs devolved upon him. 
His labors often re,,uired the draft- 
ing of re-oliili(ins in the Committee- 
room, wiiieli he was able to defend 
against sk.llful opponents. His mental 
resources :ind abilities as a debater 
were above the average of our Repre- 
sentatives. Mr. Fillmore declined a 
third term, although nominated by 
acc'amation in a convention of his con- 
stituents. In the year lft47 he was 
ejected Comptroller of the State of New 
York, and therefore he removed to the 
State Capital. It was imiversallv ad- 
mitted that the duties of this offiee 
were never more faithfully <lisehargcd. 
In the fall of ISIX, .Millard Filltnore 
was electi'd Vice-Pre-ident, with Gen. 
Zanhary Taylor for President. In .luly, 
1849, the death of President Taylor 
occurred, and as a constitutional pro- 
vision, the Vice-I'ri -i h lit imist till the 
office for the rcaii.iiie !' i' ni' the term. 
Accordingly, he was ,luly inaugurated, 
and proceeded to excente the laws of 
the United States as their Chief Magis- 
trate. The odious Fugitive Slave law 
was in f>ree, and President Fillmore 
felt it to be his duty to enforce this 
law, mueli to his injury among liis own 
party at the North. The famous com- 
prouiis- iiira-:r. - ',> .■ [■ ■ ailojited, under 
Mr. Filliu T. ■ Al ml |:,|iou. and th.' 
expeditinit !•■ I i[' i- -. iii int. lie was 
warmly a;^|s-, e; it. ,1 ;ii the >outli, as 
w s ■ur\ .\(.itiMa-n man of pniminence 
Willi faviinil 'heir measures. In 1855, 
at the ell) e of his term of office, Pres- 
ideai Fillmore visi'ed Euro-e, where he 
spent a year, receiving marks of dis- 
tinguished favor, such as his position 
demanded. In 18")li his name was 
again brought out as candidate for the 
Presidenc/ bv the " Know-Nothinir '' 
party, but Mr. Buchanan, the Demo- 
cratic candidate, wis elected. Mr. 
Fillmore lived in re iieneut in the in- 
te.icr of New Vn.k, mil 11 his lieath. at 
the a.^e.if 7! veai-. His s- iui)athies, 



if not with 


he S,a 


th ill II 


e Itebellion, 


were never 


'Xtiai. 


•d t,. 1 


e Morth by 


word or dee 


1, a. el 


he \\as 


leeordlngly 


f rgotteu b^ 


both. 


Such : 


le the vicis 


situdes of h 


aniau 1 


fe and i 


vents. 



Judge Edmonds. 
«' Aprils. Peath nf .Tiidue Kdmond.s, an 
ahlcNew Y.uk jurist ami ]ihilanthro- 
pist. F(ir s \eu Mats he iiei iipied the 
positions of rireiiit .liel-e, .Iii.lgeofthe 
Supreni.' Cnuil, and .Indue of the 
Ciant of Appeals, ■fhnuieh his efforts 

the New York State prisons, and a 
series of rewards for good behavior in- 
stituted. Judge Edmonds was a zeal- 
ous devotee of Spiritualism, himself a 
medium, and the author of a work en- 
titled '' Spiritualism." 

A Great Iin'ciitor. 
" April 13. Death of James Bogardus, an 



1874. eminent American scientist and in- 
ventor. Among his numerous inven- 
tions were the ■' rinp;-fiicr " for cotton 
spinning now in general use, an ec- 
centric mill, an engraving machine 
which cut the sti'cl die for the gold 
medal for fin Am ri< m liislitutc'and 



dry ga 



Bi 



tlle 



apiilieaiils. lie iiiMiitil a machine 
for pressine -lass, lie Imilt the first 
cast-iPiu I. nil. ling in the United States 
in ^;e\v Vnrk — a building five stories 
lii-h iimI niiMly te, I in'length ; and 
he sii'is ■nuenily beraine a contractor 
for biiildiiig irmi wari'houses. He also 
inveiitcl a pyrometer of great delicacy 
.and tieeuraey. 

Ajiril 'JC. The President vetoed a bill 
for inconvertible paper money. 

President Craiit settled the Arkansas 
gubernatoritil warhiie liy recognizing 
Baxter as Governor, and warning 
Brooks and his fellow insurgents to 
disperse. 

Mill River Disaster. 

May 10. A terrible disaster occurred in 
the town of Williamsburg, Hampshire 
Countv, Alass., by which 147 persons 
lost iheii- \\\v- and l,-,'(lii were left des- 
tiliiie. (i\ei- si iiii'i, 111)0 of property 
was ile,irii\iil It \vas Caused by a 
(lefietiM K SI 1-,, 111- of 100 acrcs in ex- 
tent. Three villages were almost en- 
tiri 1\ swept a\\av, and twelve miles of 
teiiituiv laid waste. Twelve mills 
weiv deslri.Neil, and hundreds of cattle 
and lea-s,.s pe,i-|,,,l it, the Hood. It 

hid for a ham- t ■ be,,; ennsidercd 

iiiseeaic, as il \\as l.iit all earthen dam, 
wile as ,,i,e,,.,Tll,,u al the nutlet of the 
resr]..,iif. \\hieh sliiMi:.! liaMlieeu built 
eiitiieK ,,f seliil mas.aiiv. but the fru- 
e-alitv of the .nvneis oveiaanie their 
better ind-nient, and a cheap dam Wiis 
built, the result of which cupidity cost 
over loo peo|ile their lives and several 
linndred their homes, their earnings, 
and all. The shock was as sudden as 
it was appalling. The mills were in 
full operation, and with but a moment's 
warning the frightened operatives 
rushed from the buildings but to be 

overtaken with the il Iwliich swept 

through the streets with tlie vel..cilv 
of afastrailroailtraiii,beariiiu'/,/„vxti. 
the height of ihirtv fe, t before it. 
The liu-gest brick buildings viclded to 
the flood, and wen- .rushed like an 
egg-shell. Those iiulv escaped who 
reacheil the hills. e\,ep( .a 'ii's^- who 

were saved ill llnatin- Ira Iwellings. 

'11 1 e \ allev pri si iitisl a liui i ibli' picture 
to those vhu relnineil ti. witncs.s tlie 
ruin. . I' till ir In. in.-s. their property, and 
to e,.,t|„i- up ihrir dead. Scattered all 
through that winding valley of death 
were the relics of once happy homes, 
trees torn from their roots, liuge boil- 
ers battered and bruised, wrecks of 
buildings, and the hudies of the dead, 
all kit in one wild waste of ruin, either 
buricl ia the ininl, ,.r entangleil amid 
the tr-e top, ;,nd aiuid the .l.hri.t of 
destruc lion, tnin, mangled, and ghastly, 
a scene never to be forgotten. $05,01)0 



w.ro raised in New England towns 
and New York for the immediate re- 
lief of the inhabitants. 

May 23. Senate passed the Civil Rights 
bill. 

Juno 1. Gen. Bristow confirmed by the 
Senate as Secretary of the Treasury. 

Henry Grinnell. 
Juno 30. Death of Henry Grinnell, an 
eminent New York merchant and phi- 
lanthro)iisf, and one of the mendjers of 

the I'MeUsive sl,ippi,,e house of Grin- 
nell, .Miniuni .V Co, In bsaii Mr, Grin- 



expe.l 
lin, th 


■I'oVt 




IMor 


this 1 


11 Frank- 
vpciition 


f\^ 


Tin la 


■fhe 
itu. 


• 1.") 


1 of 1 


icHt E. J. 
land dis- 
1 bv this 


ex pel 1 


tiiiii \ 


as 1 


luiei 


< il'iu 


ell Land. 


To^et 


ler wi 


h .\ 


r. (i( 




.body, in 


ise;;,i 


c cxpc 


idcd 


S.")!!,! 


III n]>' 


.1 another 


exped 


tion, w 


lael 


was 




in charge 


of Dr. 


Kane 


II 


W lis 


also 


iiiich in- 


teres ted in 


.be 




ilion 


of Capt. 


Hall. 














Chi 


rch 


and 


State 





Struiiule of the Roman Catholic priest- 
hoo.l in llrazil for the Mipi.aiiacy of 
power. The Cahiint Miiiist.r, Vis- 
count Caravclla, d. aland 'that the 
s.iv.acientv of Brazil can n.it admit 
auoth.a- sov.n.lun o\.r it," also, "that 
the r.ishop of (Hill. la, by his interdict 
against th.' Fmanasons. had violated 
tlic Constituti(m of the empire." 

Grasshopper Raid. 
Great devastation caused by the grass- 
hoppers throughout the Northwest, 
especially in Kans.as, Nebraska, Jlis- 
souri, Iowa, and Minnesota, during 
this and the iollowdng year. 

Charlie Ross. 

July 1. The abduclicn of a little boy of 
four years of age, son of Christian K. 
Ross, of Germantown, Pa., a suburb 
of Philadelphia, He was, with his 
brother, aged six years, playing upon 
the sidewalk before his father's house, 
when two men in a wagon enticed 
them with candy and a promise of 
fire-crackers to get into the wagon and 
fake a ri.le. They drove in a zigzag 
direction about eight miles, when they 
gave the eldest hoy twenty-five cents, 
and told him to go into a shop and 
buy some tire-crackers. As soon as he 
enteri'd th.' store they drove off with the 
lilih' .ine, an.l were never seen or heard 
fioiii amiiii, until they were both shot 
while in the act of committing a bur- 
glary four months al'ttr. In about a 
week alter fhe child was stolen, one 
of the ab,luetors wrote Mr. Ross a let- 
ter, in which he proposed to deliver 
up the cliil.l for a large ransom. This 
was the first case of brigandage, or 
holding a person or child for a ransom, 
evir alfeni])tcd in this country. In 
th.' correspondence between the father 
and the abductors, they offered to de- 
liver the child, safe and sound, to his 
parents, for the sum of $20,000, pro- 
vided Mr. Ross would pledge his .sa- 
cred word and honor that they should 
suffer no harm from the transaction. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



813 



1874. The detectives and cliiefs of police 
were much opposed to Mr. Ross ac- 
cepting such a priipoaition, as the re- 
sult would prove very disastrous to 
the safety of little children in the fu- 
ture, as they felt very positive in 
being able finally to discover the child 
and secure his abductors. 

The subsequent unsuccessful search, 
the bold and desperate attempt of his 
abductors to procure a largo ransom 
for the stolen chiM, their actual cor- 
respondence with the father during a 
period of four months, and their final 
capture and tragical deatli while rob- 
bing a house, and the utter failure of 
the combined eflbrts of the police and 
detective forces of the country to dis- 
cover the child, altogether fomi a 
story of startling and thrilling interest 
in the annals of crime. The news 
soon spread over the entire civilized 
world, and anxious and sympathetic 
parents from all parts of Europe and 
America sent letters of condolence and 
sympathy to the afflicted parents. The 
sleepless vigilance of anxious and out- 
raged humanity was constantly on 
the alert, and hundreds of letters and 
dispatches from all parts of the coun- 
try were received by Mr. Ross, de- 
scribing children who were found, or 
had been seen under suspicious cir- 
cumstances, and whom, it was claimed, 
answered the description of the " lost 
Charlie." The constant and terrible 
anxiety of the parents, and their cease- 
less efforts to find their lost darling ; 
the wasting of a fortune in the fruit- 
less search, together with the thrilling 
sturynf his abduction, with the details 
of the correspondence and search, also 
the killing of his abductors, are all re- 
lated in a simple yet graphic manner 
in the book entitled "Charlie Ross, 
the Kidnapped Child," by his father. 
Christian K. Ross. Mr. Ross has 
spent over §50,000 for the recovery 
of his child, and still hopes to find 
him. The Governor of Pennsylvania 
recently appointed Mr. Ro?s to a pub- 
lic office, he being now a poor man. 
On the 14th of December two burglars 
were surprised and shot while in the 
act of robbing a house in Bay Ridge, 
Ij. I., by Mr. Van Brunt and his son. 
One of the burglars was shot dead on 
the spot, and the other lived but a 
short time. Before he died he con- 
fessed that he and his coiupanion were 
the alxluctors of Charlie Ross; that 
their names were Moshier and Doug- 
lass, and that Moshier, the m.an who 
was shot dead, was the one who held 
the child in custody, but that he 
(Douglass) could not tell where the 
child was secreted. This is the last 
tluat has ever been heard from Charlie 
Ross. 
" July 14. Another large fire in Chicago, 
destroying a vast amount of prop- 
erty G08 



Great Flood at Pittsburg. 

July 27. Great flood at Pittsburg and 
Alleghany City; about 200 lives and a 
vast amount of property destroyed . 608 

Aug. Tlie steamer "Pat Rogers'''' de- 
stroy edhyjire on the Ohio Kiver, and 25 
lives lost G08 

Aug. Riots at Austin, Jliss., between 



negroes and whites; also insurrection 
in Trenton, Teiin. 
Aug. 7. A snow-storm occurreJ in New 
Hampshire 008 

£zra Cornell. 

Dec. 9. Ezra Cornell died at New York. 
Mr. Cornell was a philanthropist and 
patron of education. lie acquired his 
fortune in connection with the tele- 
graph business, conceiving the idea of 
supporting the wires upon poles — as 
now universally practiced — and con- 
structing the principal lines through 
the Eastern States. Mr. Cornell's first 
public benefaction wns a gift of a pub- 
lic library and building to the city of 
Ithaca, N. Y. His second and munificent 
gift to the public was the founding an<l 
endowment of " Cornell University." 

At the chise of this year there were 72,- 
623 miles of railroad in oiieration in 
the United States. 

NearUi $6,000,000 of tlie Public Debt can- 
celed th'isjixcal year. 

There iccrc^^^ZO failures in business this 
year. 

Beccher Trial. 

Trial of Henry Ward Beecher, pastor of 
Plymouth Congregational Church, 
Biooklyn, N. Y., for adultery with 
Jlrs. Theodore 'i'ilton, as charged by 
her husband. Mr. Tilton being a 
prominent literary man, and editor of 
the New York Indeiiendent, also a very 
intimate friend of Mr. Beecher. The 
trial was the most noted and intensely 
exciting one of the kind in the annals 
of the world's history. Its results were 
most indefinite and unsatisfactory to 
the people, the jury disagreeing, and 
no verdict rendered. The leading 
witnesses were prominent Christians 
and intelligent and inlhicntial citizens, 
and bore the most einiiliiiuni l.xtlnaan/. 

Jan, 9. Death of Dr. Sawarl Uridlcy 
Dowe, the distinguished philanthro}iist, 
arjed 74 years. 

Jan. 10. Death of Gen. Gordon Granger, 
at Santa F6, Mexico. 

Jan. 1.'). Gold the lowest for this ye.ar, 
lUf. 

Jan. 25. Death, in Fitchburg, Mass., of 
Rev. George T. Trask, the anii-tobacco 
apostle, aged 78 years. 

The Kcclcy Motor. 

Invention of a motive power which 
seemed to promise a revolution in the 
entire mechanical world. It is claimed 
by Mr. Keeley, the inventor, that he 
has discovered a new power or force 
in nature which will ])roduce a pnssure 
of 5O,ii00 poiniils to the sqmirc inch, by 
the condensation i.f air and water, and 
that it will atcompli.sh all tli.it steam 
or gnnpowder can do, and yet render 
an explosion harmless. Alsi, that an 
engine of 5,000 horse-power will occupy 
no more space than an orJinary steam- 
engine. This subject has caused a great 
deal ofexcitemirnt among nieclianieal 
and scientific men. Several prominent 
scientists and practical machinists 
have examined it and tested its power, 
and pronounce it a success. But it 
yet remains fir the public to be C(m- 
vinccd of the practicability of the 
wonderful claims of this new discovery. 



as it has not yet been made a practi.yd 
success. 

Feb. 15. Great fire at Port au Prince, 
llayti. 500 houses burned. 

Feb. 25. Falling of a wall upon the roof 
of St. Andrew's Church in New York 
city, during religious service. A pmic 
ensued, and five persons were killed 
and thirty wounded. 

March. Colorado admitted to the 
Union as a State. 

March 8. Damages of $6,537, niio award- 
ed against Tweed in civil suit. 

M.arch 20. Destructive tornado in 
Georgia. Great loss of life and prop- 
erty. 

Mari'ii-.April. Yellow fever in the city 
of Buenos Ayres, S. A.; the number of 
victims exceeded 1 .'5,000. 

April 13. Death of SamujI R. Wells, well 
known professor ol i.lnvn.iloLjy, and 
proprietor of the Vhrn,,.l,„ii,-,i} .li.Ni-naL 
He wa-J, for many years, ass.ii iatcd with 
the Fowlers in the advunceiuent of the 
science ot Phrenology, 

April 22. John llar])er, senior member of 
the firm of ■' llaiper Brothers," died, 
aged 78. 

Aprd 25. Burning of three ste.amers at 
the New Orleans levee; liltv lives were 
lost. 

Aprd-May. Great floods in the South. 
Lar^iC portions of Arkansas and I.oui-i- 
ana inundated. Great sufiering among 
the inhabitants, especially among the 
laboring classes and freedmen. Large 
contributions were sent from the 
North. 

May. Extensive forest fires in Michigan, 
Pennsylvania, New Y'ork, and Canada, 
with great loss of property and some 
lives. 

Appearance of grasshoppers in Iowa in 
great numbers. 

Trial of Prof. Stuing. 
May 5. Trial of Prof. Swing, by the 
Presbytery of Chicago, upon the 
charges ofhere-^y and unfaithfulness in 
duty as a pastor, preferred by Mr. Pat- 
ton. In other words, Prof Swing was 
arraigned bef ire the Chicago Presby- 
tery for not being faithful to the doc- 
trines of the Westminster Confession. 
The trial lasted fifteen days, and re- 
sulted in his acquittal by the Presbytery 
of Chii-ago by a three-fourths vote. 
Prof. Swing .subsequently withdrew 
from the Presbytery, and Mr. McVick- 
er's theater was hired lor church 
services on Sunday mornings, where 
he has since preached to very large 
audiences as pastor of a new and in- 
dependent congregation, called the 
"Central Church." Prof. Swing's ser- 
mons have since been regularly re- 
ported and published in the leading 
newspapers of ttie city. 

T)r. Susan Dimmick. 
May 9. Dr. Susan Dimmick, of Roston, 
was lost on the ,Sr/iiUer, which was 
wrecked on the coast of Cornwall, Eng., 
and over 300 lives were lost. She 
was twice refused adndttance into the 
Medical School of Harvard University, 
and went to Zurich, Switzerland, where 
she graduated with high honors. She 
also studied in Vienna, and returned 
to Boston, where she became resident 



CHEONOLOGY. 



physician of a Iiospital lor w( 
children. 



and 



John C. Brcckcnriili^e. 
May 17. Deatli of .lohn C. Breckenridge, 
at Lexington, Ky. Mr. Breckenridge 
■was chosen for Vice-President of the 
United States, witli .Mr. .lames Bu- 
clianan Preidcnt, and in ls(iO he was 
the candidate for President of a section- 
al party at tlir S<iUth, and in the same 
year he was elretcd as U. S. Senator 
and defendi'd tin- Soiiiliern Confederacy 
and seces-ion in the Senate. Soon 
aft rr lie joined the ( 'onfi-derate army, 
and in i)eeenil.er, ISCl, «as expell('<l 
from the Senati'. In the summer fol- 
hiwing he was apiinintc 1 a Major-Gen- 
eral by the Conl'-dcracv, and served 
through the war of till- Kriirllion. He 
was Sen-etarv of War in .TrllVrson Davis' 
Caliiiirt :it thr time ..f (hr surrender of 
(he S.mlh, and wrut i niiiir.ljatelv to 
Knni,,.., where he remain.d till ISOS. 
when he returned and devnted himself 
to his profession as a lawyer. 

Great Eartliquakc. 

May 18. Earthquake in New Granada, 
y. A. Si.x eities destroyed. The city 
of Cucuta entirely obliterated ; 16,0u0 
lives were lot. 

May 37. Burning of the French Catholic 
Church at Ilolyoke, Mass., during a 
celelnation. 7.') lives were lost. 

May :10. Loss of the steamer YiaUlmrg, 
from Montre il to Liverpool. She went 
down in a tield of ice. 83 lives were 
lost. 

June 1. National Temperance Conven- 
tion met in Chicago. 

June 14. Death of Samuel O. Drake, a 
niitid American antiquarian, and 
author of early American and Indian 
histories. 

June IG. Explosion in a manufactory of 
fireworks in Bost m, Mass. Six per- 
sons killed and three seriously injured. 

Riot in South America. 
June 20. Terrible riot at San Miguel, a 



authorities by' a iuil.i ii.iniol I'alacois. 
Tlie garrison were ueaily all assassi- 
nated, and many prominent persons 
killed. The town was then liurued by 
pouring kcrosenr nv. a I-iildlngs, The 
British ship /'.■. i la large 

company of niaiis. (.iied to 

the rescue. '1 lie dim .;.■,' ,\,i- r-timated 
at §1,000,000. 

'' Doesticlar 

June 2.5. Dea'h of Mortimer Thompsoui 
a humorous writer, well known as 
"Doesticks." He married, fur his 
second wife, tlie daughter of Mrs. James 
I'arton, or " Fanny Fern." His literary 
name was " Q. K. Philander Doesticks, 
P. B." 

July 5. Bailroad collision on Long 
Island ; fifteen persons killed and over 
twenty injured. 

Mrs. Celia Burleigh. 

July 7. Death of Mrs. Celia Burleigli, 

at Syracuse, N. Y. She was a preacher 



and reformer, and the widow of Wm. 
II. Burleigh, a strong and popular ad- 
vocate of anti-slavery and Woman's 
liighls piinciples. Jlrs. Burlei;,'h was 
the first President of tlie Woman's 
Club of Brooklyn, and took an active 
part in the advorarv of Wmuau Suffrage 
and othri- ivfiinii iih.m nunl.. U|.on 
tlie ili-ath III' hi r liii-Iiair I. -hr prepared 
hcrstlf for the minislry. ami was pastor 
of a Unitarian Church in Hrooklyn. 
Conn. Mrs. Burleigh Iiad a wide repu- 
tation as an able writer and eloquent 
speaker. 

Frank Blair. 
July S. Death of Hon. Francis Preston 
Blair, Jr., at St. Lmiis, an eminent poli- 
tician ami ruiioris-iiian. He was in 
lSG8acan.liil.,lr f,.i \ i,e-President on 
tlie ticket wilh (,nv. Seymour, of New 
York, as President. 

Donaldson s Balloon Ascension. 
July I.-;. P,a!lorai ascension of Prof. 
Jionaldson and Xiwtnii S. Grimwood, 
a <'lii,-n,f,, ,1,, II null n-porter, from the 
Hippodrome in Chicago. These bold 
and daring adventurers ascended 
amid a vast and tumultuous crowd of 
spectators at n o'clock p.m. A stiflF 
breeze was blowing from the south- 
west at the time, which took them in 
a north-east direction over the lake. 
Tlie breeze swelled to a hurricane be- 
fore midnight. A small schooner 
siglited the balloon at 7 o'clock about 
twelve miles north of Cliicago and 
thirty miles from the sliore, and but a 
mile and a half from the vessel. It 
was skimming along the surface of the 
lake. The captain realizing their 
danger, headed his vessel in their di- 
rection, but before he conkl reach it 
there was a sudden lightening of the 
car and the balloon shot rapidly up- 
ward and \yas soon lost to si.ght. That 
w.iv thr last I liat was ever heard of the 
balloiin and its daring and reckless 
aeronaut. Professor Donaldson. The 
globe was a cotton one, and badly bat- 
tered and patched, and presented a 
threadbare and flimsy appearance, and 
many of the spectators preiUcted its 
destruction and the sacrifice of its bold 
occupants at the time of starting. 

Andrew Johnson. 
July ;!1. Death of Andrew Johnson, 
seventeenth President of the United 
States, in Carter County, East Tennes- 
see. Mr. Johnson was born at Raleigh, 
N. C, Dec. 2!i, ISDS. His father died 
when he was but four years old, and at 
ten he was aijprenticcd to a tailor, 
whom he served seven years. He was 
m.t at schnnl a day of his life. Wliile 
Irarniim his trad.' iir Irarunl his letters, 

and boriMUrd I k, and learned to 

read. When lir had Irarurd his trade, 
h.i found .■iiipli.Mn.nt as a journeyman 
tailor t\yo Mars, and aftrr working a 
short tiiiir in Kal.ij^di. he (migrated to 
Tennessee, taking wil'i liiiii his mother, 
wlio was now dipi nd. iil on him for 
support. He niaiiiiil in i drenvitle, 
Tenn., and comnn in . d lin-iiuss there. 
Hi- wil'r taii-ht Ida, ti. urite and 
eipli.r, and tin- tirsl uxWv h- held was 
Ihat oi' .Mil. riiiaii, l.i wliii-li he was 
elected in 18:;s, and which he held for 



three years. In 1830 he was chosen 
]\!ayor of his town, and in 183.5 was 
S( nt to thr State Legislature, and again 
'■' '-'' ''• ' large majority. In 1841 
111 IV - .l-i'id to the State Senate, 
ami III I ! ; In Congress, iu which he 

■■' ' '■" '''' and \yas a conspicuous 

I'li'iil I'nil-.'s measures. 
< 1 lirti'il liovi rnor of 
i-i l.iii'd in ls.5,5, and 
'. S. xi,,:i!i. n.r a full 
I'liimj lit I 111 M ar he was 
-I'll' III liir I'liion, de- 
ii'ii III a l„,|il and im- 



advocati 
In 18.5;! 
Tenne-si 
in 18.57 
trriu. (I 



reserved 
popular a 
he \yas In 



uuteers. 



ut Lin- 
al Gov- 



He ruled Tennessee upon terms of 
justice and strict loyalty to the Federal 
Government, and brought her back 
int.. the liiii.ti. In 1m;4 he was elected 
A ill' I'l. -ilk lit \\\K\\ .Mr. I.inco'n re- 
el ii.. I as I'll sal. ait, ami upon the as- 
sa->illati.nl ..I tlm lattrr he tnok the 
I'r. ^i.l.nt\ iliair .\|iril 1.5, l.sr,5. His 
cll.irt-j 1.1 ri.'iiii-iriirt Ik.' tnion were 
11. . I u.'ll ivn, iM'.l l.y (nn-r.'-s. and the 
]li|.nliliiaiimajiiiii\ ri| im I i;,tri| his acts, 
ami pi'iicrnli il tor.v.m.tni.t theSouth- 
i-ni Slalrs upon a .lillia. nt basis. 
From this lime on he was at variance 
with Congress, and vetoed no less than 
nineteen bills. His enmity of the Sec- 
retary of War was so great that on 
Aug. I-J, ksc,:. h.' sus|rm|r.| hini from 
nllici- ami ap]ii.inir,| c, n. Ciaiit in his 
jilaen. 'fk. Siaialn i.IiimjiI ti. sanction 
the act, au 1 Gen. Grant resigned the 
office into Mr. Stanton's hands. Upon 
making the second attempt to remove 
Stanton, the House of Keprescntatlves 
])a^si'.l a r.s,,!utiou that Wxa President 
bi- impi a' III il. At the close of the 
tii il. M.iv joih, at the final vote, thirty- 
liyr \.ii.d ■guilty" and nineteen "not 
guilty. " .V two-thirds vote not being 
(ilitaiimd, thr I'resid. nt was acquitted. 
His list .1.1 in opposition to Congress 
was in December, 1M>8, when he issued 
a proclamation of full pardon to every- 
liody who had participated in the Re- 
bellion. Upon his return to Tennessee 
hi v.,,s .1. fiatnl as a eandiilate, both 



elected 111 Iki i . S. Si iiale, holding his 
seat duriiiLi: tin' Iniir extra session in 
March. .Mr. .l.ikiis.in's career as Presi- 
dent was M, at yariance with his loy- 
alty during the outbreak of the Rebel- 
lion, aii.l also during his political 
career through and after the war, unlil 
he became Vice-President, that it was 
regarded as enigmatical and suspicious 
by the North ; and the bright fame he 
enjoyed from his true and uncompro- 
mising loyalty was shadowed by a dark 
cloud which settled over the closing 
years of his otherwise noble and useful 
life, 

Ncv'ton S. Grimwood. 

ug. The body of Newton S. Grini- 
woolI, the companion of Prof. Donald- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



815 



1875. son in his disastrous aerial voyage, was 
found on the eastern shore of Lake 
Michigan, between Stony Creek and 
Montague, by a mail carrier, in a partial 
state of decomposition, and partially 
buried in the sand. A bursied life- 
preserver was fastened around liis 
body. The whole country adjacent to 
the lake was thoroughly searched for 
Prof. Donaldson and his missing bal- 
loon, but they were never heard from 



Ku-Khix in Illinois. 
A band of outlaws and desperadoes in 
disguise infested portions of Illinois, 
whipping and murdering citizens and 
destroying their property. The citi- 
zens formed themselves into committees 
of scouts, under permission of the 
Governor, and scoured the whole 
country. The band was linally broken 
up and dispersed. 

Troubles in Mexico. 

Threatened revolution in Mexico caused 
by the passage of liberal laws. The 
Ultramontane clergy incited the masses 
to resistance and bloodshed. The 
priests placed themselves at the head 
of armed bands and imposed contribu- 
tions upon the defenseless villages. 
The national troops, however, over- 
powered them, and those that did not 
escape to the mountains were hanged. 
Bands of insurgents bade defiance 
to the Government, and plundered and 
pillaged the citizens along the line, 
both in Mexico and Texas, which 
threatened trouble with the United 
States. 

Aug. 6. Assassination of Don Gabriel 
Garcia Moreno, President of Ecuador, 
in the royal palace at Quito, by mem- 
bers of a secret society, wliich were 
numerous in South America and 
Europe. 

Aug. l(j. Death, at Oberlin, of Kcv. 
Chas. G. Finney, President of Oberlin 
College, also evangelist and reformer. 

Aug. 23. "Wm. Cyrus Nutt, D.D.. late 
President of the University of Indiana, 
died at Bloomington, Ind. lie was 
the first President of Asbury Univer- 
sity, at Greencastle, Ind., organizing 
that college with three scholars in a 
room 12x 15 feet. 

Aug. 26. Sudden suspension of the 
great California Bank. Intense excite- 
ment in San Francisco, resembling 
" Black Friday " in New York, and 
$1,400,000 were paid out this day. The 
bank had a capital of $5,000,000. 

William Ralston. 
Aug. 27. Suicide of William Ralston, 
President of the California Bank, liy 
drowning. Mr. Ralston was the '• Jay 
Gould " of the Pacific Coast ; a man 
of large liberality and princely hospi- 
talities. He lived in a large "baronial 
mansion, twenty-five miles south of San 
Francisco, at San Mateo, and drove a 
splendid team of horses to the ciiy al- 
most daily. 

Mr. Ralston began life as a shoe- 
maker, but soon found a more con- 
genial position as a clerk on a Missis- 
sippi steamer. From this jiosition he 
became connected with a line of Cali- 



fornia steamers, and finally settled down 
in San Francisco and started a bank. 
His great abiUtses as a financier were 
soon developed, and he became Presi- 
dent and Director of the Bank of Cali- 
fornia, which, under his management, 
grew to colossal jjroportions, and was 
considered the great financial pillar 
of the State. But the almost universal 
example of the extravagance and wild 
spirit of adventure and reckless squan- 
dering of money, gained by specula- 
tion and gambling, and also of the 
quick departure of wealth so suddenly 
made, was strikingly repeated in the 
history of Wm. Ralston. His style and 
manner of living were more than 
l)riacely. Like his prototype, .lim Fisk, 
lie must invest in a hotel, which 
should, when completed, be pronounced 
the grandest in the world, and which 
would cost the modest sum of three 
million dollars. Mining and " stock 
gambling " formed another feature in 
which Ralston imitated Fisk, and upon 
which he " staked a fortune," but un- 
like Fisk, he lo»t. Unfortunately for 
him, the great " bonanza" holders and 
controllers of the Comstock mine 
(Flood and O'Brien) were better versed 
in that department of gambling than 
their victim. They sold him rapidly, 
advancing shares at "fancy prices" 
and in fabulous amounts. He had 
risked the capital of the bank as freely 
.IS he did his own personal property. 
Soon the shares began to fall faster 
than they had risen. A run came 
upon the bank, its credit was shaken, 
and worst of all, the heartless con- 
trollers of that vast monopoly turned 
bankers also, and refused all accommo- 
dation to the rival house; and when 
the crash came, nothing was left the 
doomed man but a choice of death by 
his own hand, or a life of reproach, 
humiliation, and poverty. 
Sept. Trial of William Weaiervelt for 
complicity in the abduction and con- 
cealing of the " stolen chilil" Charlie 
Boss. He was found guilty, and sen- 
tenced to the Penitentiary for seven 
years. 



Sept. 



Fasl Mail. 



17. Arrival of the first fast mail 
in in Chicago at 6.31 a.m., which 
left New York at 4.17 a.m. the 16th. 
The train was brought into Chicago 
Viy Mr. Frank Osgood, of Elkhart, Ind., 
who had to make twenty five minutes 
of lost time in one hundred and one 
miles. He fainted in the cab when 
the train reached the depot, so great 
had been the strain upon his nerves 
and his mental anxiety. They arrived 
several minutes before the expiration 
of the allotted time. 

Sept. Severe hurricane on the Island of 
St. Thomas. 

Sept. 38. Terrific gale at Charleston, 
S. 0. ; damages $350,000. 

Oct. 5. The highest price of gold for 
the year 1875 was on this day, 117^. 

Oct. 7. Town of Iquique, Peru, de- 
stroyed by fire. 

Invention of the life or surf-car, by Capt. 
Ottinger, for saving people on wrecked 
vesssls in storms, when the life-boat 
can not be used. 

Oct. 11. Death of Isaac Merrill Singer, 



inventor of the Singer Sewing Ma- 
chine, in Torquay. Eng. 
Oct. 26. Great fire in Virginia City, Ne- 
vada ; the business portion completely 
" Loss estimated at $4,000,- 



Nov. 4. Steamship PaeAfic foundered 
between San Francisco and Portland ; 
nearly 300 lives lost. 

Nov. 9. Burning of the steamship City 
of Waco oif Galveston bar ; nearly 70 
lives lost. 

Nov. 17. Coast packet Empire lost at 
New Orleans ; 14 passengers and sev- 
eral of the crew lost. 

Henry Wilson. 

Nov. 22. Henry Wilson, Vice-President 
of the United States, died of apoplexy 
at Washington, D. C. Ho was born 
in Farmington, N. H., Feb. 6th, 1812. 
His father's name was Colbath, and 
was a ]ioor farm laborer, and appren- 
ticed his son, at the age of ten years, 
to a farmer in his native town. He 
went to school about one year, at in- 
tervals, during the eleven years of his 
apprenticeship. At the age of 21, by 
an act of the Legislature, he assumed 
the name of Henry Wilson, and the 
same year he walked to Natick, Mass., 
and hired himself to a shoemaker till 
he learned the trade. He worked two 
years, and earned some money and re- 
turned to New Hampshire, and studied 
in the academies of Stafibrd, Wals- 
borough, and Concord, but losing his 
earnings by the failure of the man to 
whomhe had intrusted them, he was 
compelled to return to Natick and re- 
sume work as a shoemaker. Here he 
took an active part in forming and 
sustaining a debating society among 
the young men of the town. In 1835 
he took an active part in the anti-slav- 
ery discussions, then so prominent a 
question in debate. In 1838 he made 
his first visit to Washington, and 
there the vivid impressions made upon 
his mind by the slave-trade and prac- 
tice in the District of Columbia for- 
ever fostered an undying hatred of the 
system in his manly and generous nat- 
ure. His first active participation in 
politics was in the " Harrison cam- 
paign" of 1840, and during the next 
five years he was three times elected a 
Representative to the Legislature from 
Natick, and twice a State Senator from 
Middlesex County. In 1845 he took 
an active part in opposing the admis- 
sion of Texas as a slave State. In 
1846 he ofi'ered a resolution in the 
Legislature against slavery, and sup- 
ported it by an elaborate and compre- 
hensive speech. In 1848 he was a 
delegate to the Whig National Con- 
vention in Philadelphia, and withdrew 
from the Convention, atier making his 
protest, on the rejection of' the anti- 
slavery resolutions. He edited the 
Boston liepiihlican fir- two years in the 
interest of the Free Soil party. In 
1850 and '51 he was again a Member 
of the Massachusetts State Senate, and 
was President of the Senate both 
terms. In 1853 he was President of 
the Free Soil National Convention, at 
Pittsburg, Chairman of the National 
Committee, and candidate for Con- 
gress, but failed in the elec'.ion by 1)3 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1875. votes. In 18-55 he was elected to suc- 
ceed Edward Everett in the United 
States Senate. Sir. Wilson aided in 
organizing the Republican party on 
tlie basis of opposition to the extension 
of slavery, and when, on the 23d of 
May, 1850, Mr. Sumner, his colleague, 
■was assaulted by Preston S. Bi-ooks, 
of Soudi Carolina, Mr. AVilson, in a 
speech to the Senate the next morning, 
denounced the act as " brutal, murder- 
ous, and cowardly,'" and for this lan- 
guage he wa-; challenged by Bro<^ks for 
a duel, but lirl].in..ru..|y<lrrliiu'.l on llie 
ground thai <liKlii!L;- is :i 1 la; b:;ri>us ami 
unlawful iiractirc, wliilr lie statrd that 
he belkctd in tJi.e rijiU <>fntlf-d<Jaixc in 
the Iroadest sense. From this time on, 
Mr. Wilson was constantly in public 
political service, and rapidly rose in 
popularity, and soon became one of 
the acknowledged champions of Ameri- 
can liberty, independent of caste or 
color, in the Senate, the press, and at 
the ballot-box. In 1873 Mr. Wilson 
was elected to the Vice-Presidency 
with Gen. Grant. In 1873 he was 
stricken with paralysis, from which 
he never fully recovered. He was the 
author of the following works : " His- 
tory of the Rise and Fall of the Slave 
Power," in two volumes ; " History of 
the Anti-Slavery Measure in Congress ; " 
" Military Measures of the United 
States Congress," and several others. 
Mr. Wilson's pubHc life was not cloud- 
ed by one dishonorable act, and he 
maintained his loyalty and political 
integrity to the last of his career, and 
he was deeplv and sincerely mourned. 
" Nov. 23. Nearly one-half of the town of 
Tuscumbia, Ala., destroyed by a storm 
of wind and rain ; 13 persons killed. 



William B. Astor. 

Nov. 34. Death, of Wra. B. Astor, eldest 
son and principal heir of John .Jacob 
Astor. Mr. Astor contributed largely 
to public charities, and made several 
private presents of value while living. 
Mr. Astor, following the example of 
his father, invested largely in real 
estate, and built mostly first-class 
houses. His rent-rolls were enormous, 
and at 80 years of age he is said 
to have owned 720 houses; in 1875 
he paid taxes on $16,000,000 worth 
of real estate in New York city, and 
the probable value of his estate at the 
time ofliis death was about $45,000,000. 

Dec. 1. Sinking of the steamer Sunny- 
side on tha Hudson River; 11 persons 
drowned. 

Dec. 4. Escape of Tweed from the cus- 
tody of the Sheriflfof New York County 

Dec. 17. Burning of the Pacific Mai 
steamer Japan, troni San Francisco to 
Yokohama; a great number of lives 
lost. 

Dec. 38. Fire-damp explosion in the 
Hutchinson mines, near Kensington, 
Pa. ; several lives were lost. 

Dec. New Constitution of Nebraska 
ratified by the people. 

During the present year the public debt 
was reduced $14,344,514.84, and the 
contract for refunding it renewed. 

Bolivian Revolution suppressed and the 
leaders banished. 

Religious agitation in Mexico. The 



Church party endeavor to incite the 187G. 
mob clement to deeds of violence. 



Moody and Saiil;cy. 

Beginning of the great revivals con- 
ducted by Moody and Sankey. Their 
first meeting was held in JSrooklyn, 
N. Y., in a skating-rink, there being 
no other building large enough to hold 
the audiences. In Philadrljihia the 
meetings were held in a In iL:ht (Icpnt 
fitted up for the purposi'. ami in ('hi- 
cago a " Tabernacle " was built by .John 
v. Farwell expressly for the meetings, 
seating comfortably 8,000 people. In 
every place where tliese evangelists 
labored great and intensely interested 
audiences attended, and the most per- 
fect order and quiet reigned through- 
out the exercises. The preaching was 
not of a nature to excite fanatical dem- 
onstration, but was deeply impressive, 
and thousands of people claimed to 
have been converted. The singing of 
Mr. Sankey was the great and attract- 
ive feature which drew the masses 
outside of the churches, and which 
charmed every ear that heard it. 

Forest fires in Pennsylvania. Property 
to the amount of .$ 3",0(J0,0u0 destroyed. 

Oreat inundation, in Texas. Four hun- 
dred lives leere iost. 

Severe storms in the South. Three hun- 
dred lives lost. 

Threatened disturbancis in Louisiana 
checked by the military under Gen. 
Sheridan. 

Amnesty Bill. 

Jan. Debate on the Amnesty bill, a Demo- 
cratic measure, which proposed grant- 
ing pardon to all the participants in 
the Rebellion who had been excluded 
from previous pardons The bill re- 
ceived the support of 173 votes, 97 
voting against it; a two-thirds ma- 
jority not being secured it was declar- 
ed lost. A second debate followed, 
which was characterized by a great 
deal of bitterness and party strife, with 
like results. 
Serious difficulties between the Ameri- 
cans and Chinese in California, and 
great opposition to Chinese emigra- 
tion. The white population in Contra, 
Costa County, expelled the Chinese by 
force and burned their houses and 
property. 

Whisky War. 

Wtu upon the " Whisky Rings," by Sec- 
retary Bristow, of the United States 
Treasury. 

Indictment of Gen. B.abcock, Private 
Secretary and personal friend of Presi- 
dent Grant, for complicity in the 
whisky frauds. A general investiga- 
tion revealed the most corrupt and 
wide-spread combination among rev- 
enue officers, distillers, and wholesale 
venders to defraud the Government. 

Feb. 5. The gallery in Robinson's Opera 
House, Cincinnati, gave way during a 
Sundaj'-school festival; twelve lives 
were lost and a score of pcrsoni 
injured. 

Feb. 8. Destructive fire on Broadway, 
N. Y. Loss $3,000,000. 

Feb. 10. Death of Hon. Reverdy John 
son, the distinguished jurist, in An 
napolis, Md., aged 79. 



Feb. 13. Explosion in a colliery at West 
Pitt,sburg, Pa.; several killed and 
wounded. 

Feb. 17. Death of Rev. Horace Bushnell, 
DD., in Hartford, Ct., aged 00. 

Charlotte Ciishman. 

Fell. IS. Death of Chariotte Cushman, 
great American singer and actress. She 
was one of the most talented and ac- 
complished women of her day. As a 
singer, her career was short ; losing her 
voici", she studied for the stage, and as 
an arlnss, her fame was world-wide. 
Slie aripiind a large fortune and the 
uiiivei-sal respect and esteem of all 
(^lasses at home and abroad. 

Feb. 3-3. Sleeping-car thrown from the 
track and burned on the Harlem Rail- 
road extension; several were killed, 
among wdiom Mr. Bissell and son, of 
the Sherman House, Chicago, were 
burned in the car. 

Maieh. Terrible ravages of the hog 
cholera tlinmsihout the Western States, 



Mairl 



hiining of the Old People's 
atholic charitable institution, 
I II, N. Y. Eighteen aged and 
men were sutibcated and 



March li. t'nieht train, with one pas- 
senger e.ii', tell tlironyh abridge on the 
Baltimore .t ( >hio Kuilroad and killed 
eleven persons. 

March 30. Bursting of a reservoir at 
Worcester, Mass. The flood carried 
everything before it for nine miles, and 
finally settled upon a large tract of 
meadow land. Millions of dollars 
worth of property was destroyed, but 
no lives were lost. 



Alexander T. Stewart. 

April 10. Death of Alexander T. Stew- 
art, the proprietor of the largest retail 
dry-gooils house in the world. His 
personal wealth was estimated at $50,- 
000,000 at the time of his death. He 
left no blood relatives, and the bulk of 
his e-tate was given to his wife. He 
bequeathed «l,000,Oi)0 to Judge Hilton, 
whom he made one of the executors ot 
his will .Airs. Stewart was api)ointed 
in his will *o carry out all his charitable 
plans, one of which was the building 
of a mammoth and magnificent hotel 
at Fourth Avenue and 32d Street, New- 
York, as a "Home for Working 
Women." The house was built and 
o|)cned under the supervision of Judge 
Hilton, but the terms were in keeping 
only with high-salaried clerks, and the 
restrictions were such as no high- 
minded and intelligent woman could 
submit to. Therefore the '' Home for 
Working Women" became a magnifi- 
cent failure, and was converted into 
a hotel. Mr. Stewart's public charities 
were munificent. He sent a ship-load 
of provisions to Ireland during the 
famine of 1846, a ship-load of flour to 
France for the sufiorers in the Franco- 
German war, and to the sufferers by the 
Chicago fire he sent $50,000. 

May 7. Death of Buell Sprague, at 
Flushing, L. I., an eminent American 
clergyman, and author of many rehgioun 
and literary works. 

May 17. Boiler explosion on the steamer 



CHEONOLOGY. 



817 



Pat. Cleykiurne on the Mississippi 
River; nine persons, inclii(lin<f tlje 
captain, were killed. 
May 18. Greenback National Convention 
met in Indianapolis, and nominated 
Peter Cooper, of New York, for I'rcsi- 
dent, with Senator Booth, ot'Califoruia, 
for Vice-President. 

General Custer. 

May 35-36. Shocking massacre of Gen. 
Custer and his entire comp.any by the 
Indians of Big Little Horn River, 
Yellowstone country. The prudence 
of Major Reno, and the timely arrival 
of Gen. Terry, saved the whole ex- 
pedition from the same fate. Gen. 
Custer was a valued and brave ofBccr 
in the war of the Rebellion. His first 
position was that of Staff Ofiicer under 
I3rig.-Gen. Kearney. He was one of 
Gen. McCIellan's aides during the Pe- 
ninsular campaign, and was afterward 
made Brigadier-General of cavalry, 
having two horses shot under him at 
the battle of Gettysburg, and his 
brigade led the column in Sluridan's 
raid toward Richmond. In .luly, ISCiCi, 
he was made Lieutcnant-Coloinl of U. 
S. cavalry, with the brevet rank of 
Major-General, and was thereafter en- 
gaged in the frontier service. Gen. 
Custer was one of the most courageous 
and dashing cavalry leaders in the 
service. His achievements during the 
war were of the most brilliant kind. 

May 30. Great fire in Quebec ; nearly 500 
houses destroyed. 

Sitting Bull. 

This year is memorable for the Indian 
war between Sitting Bull with his hos- 
tile bands and Gen. Crook with his 
command of 2,000 men, wlio, during 
eight months, marched 3,301) miles. 
3T0 Indians were captured, 350 killed, 
450 wounded, 395 lodges destroyed, 
which represented the homes of 3,000 
Indians. 

Centennial Exposition. 
Grand Centennial Exposition, or celebra- 
tion of the one hundredth birthday of 
the United States Republic, in Pliila 
delphia. The whole nation was repre- 
sented by the most skillful and com 
plcte workmanship of her artisans 
All enterprises and industries being 
represented, from the simplest 
chanical contrivance to the grandest 
achievements of art. All nations of the 
earth were invited to partieipate, a'ld 
most of them were represented with 
their beautiful wares and the products 
of their wonderfiil skill and workman- 
ship. The main building, C(nnposcd 
of iron and glass, covered an area of 
more than twenty acres, and costin<4 
upwards of |l,50il,000. The horticul- 
tural grounds occupied a space of about 
forty acres. The sum of ^(1,500,0011 
was expended in buildings and getting 
the grounds in order. The total re- 
ceipts more than doubled that of any 
■world's fair, being $8,122,409. The 
Centennial Exposition was a grand 
success, nothing happening to hinder 
the progress or mar the perfect order 
of the programme from beginning to 
end. It opened July 4th witli most 



appropriate and imposing ceremonies, 
and was attended by the chief digni- 
taries of our own country and many 
eminent representatives from the vari- 
ous nations of the earth. Dom Pedro 
II., Emperor of Brazil, was the only 
crowned representative of earth's mon- 
archies present. 
June 3. A bill passed in the Senate 
authorizing the President to appoint 
five commissioners to treat with the 
Sioux Inrlians for the cession of the 
Black Hills region. 

Santa Anna. 
June 20. Death of Antonio Lopez De 
Santa Anna, a Mexican General, in 
the City of Mexico. Santa Anna began 
liis military career in 1831 against the 
Royalists, and in 1833 was given the 
command of Vera Cruz, but his in- 
stibordination led to his dismissal, and 
he took revenge by aiding in the 
downfall of the Emperor Iturbide, after 
he had repelled the Spanish invasion 
under Borradas. In September, 1839, 
he was made Minister of War and 
C(mimander-in-chief of the army, and 
subsequently he.aded two successful in- 
surrections, and in March, 1833, he was 
mtide President, but though a favorite 
with the army, he was unpopular with 
the nation, toeing suspected of aiming 
at the imperial crown. During hi 
Pre.-idency several insurrections broke 
out, the most formidable of which was 
crushed by him on May 11, 1835. 
Upon the insurrection in Texas, Santa 
Anna took the field in person, and was 
instrumental in the perpetration of 
several savage massacres, and was 
ronted and taken prisoner by Sam. 
Houston at San Jacinto and banished. 
He was recalled to Mexico in 1846 and 
appointed Generalissimo of the Mexi- 
can army and Provisional President, 
and was defeated in every battle; and 
soon after the fall of Mexico he re- 
signed the Presidency, and with the 
permission of the American Com- 
mander-in-chief he sailed for Jamaica 
on April 5, 1848. In 1853 Santa Anna 
returned to Mexico, and was received 
with enthusiasm by the people, and 
appointed President ; but he soon 
fomented a new revolution and was 
appointed President for life. But his 
despotic rule brought about the revolu- 
tion under Alvarez, which resulted in 
the abdication of Santa Anna and his 
exile to Havana. During the French 
invasion he returned to Mexico, but 
rising disturbances led to his banish- 
ment in 1864. He was appointed Grand 
Marshal of the empire by Maximilian, 
but was implicated in a conspiracy 
against the Emperor in 1865 and he 
again retired f om Mexico. In 1867 
he made a last attempt to gain the 
.ascendency in Mexico, but was taken 
prisoner at Vera Cruz and condemned 
to death. He was pardoned by Juarez 
on consideration of his quitting the 
jMexican soil forever, and he came to 
the United States. After the death of 
Juarez he was permitted to return to 
Mexico. 
June 27. Democratic National Conven- 
tion met at St. Louis, nominating Gov. 
Samuel J. Tilden, of N. Y., for Presi- 
dent, with lion. Thomas A. Hendricks, 
of Indiana, for Vice-President. 



June. Winslow released at London. 
Extradition thus ended. 

July. Hamburg, S. C, massacre of negro 
militiamen by Butler and others. 

July 4. Terrific storm in Iowa. Forty- 
two persons drowned in the village of 
Rockdale. 

July 9. Castle Garden, N. Y. City, de- 
stroyed by fire. 

July 10. Burning of the propeller St. 
Clair on Lake Superior. Seventeen 
passengers and ten of the crew lost. 

Sullivan — Hanford. 
Aug. 7. Shooting of Fr.ancis Hanford, 
Principal of the North Division High- 
School, Chicago, 111., by Alexander 
Sullivan, Secretary of the Board of 
Public Works, upon the alleged public 
insult offered his wife in charges pre- 
ferred against her by Mr. Hanford be- 
fore the City Council, and which Mr. 
Hanford refused to retract. In the 
communication (which Mr. Hanford 
declared to have been a confidential 
note to one of the Aldermen, and 
which he very injudiciously read be- 
fore the Council) Mr. Hanford charged 
Mrs. Sullivan with "being the insti- 
gator of all the deviltry connected 
with the legislation of the Board of 
Education. That her influence with 
the Mayor had secured the dismissal 
of the Secretary of the Board of Public 
Works, and the appointment of her hus- 
band in his place; also of being con- 
nected with a 'ring' which controlled 
the Board of Education, and which 
was hostile to Mr. Pickard, the General 
Superintendent of the City Schools," 
etc. Mr. Sullivan arrived at the Coun- 
cil Chamber just after the communica- 
tion had been read, and upon receiving 
a cojjy of the same, also being in- 
formed that Mr. Hanford was the au- 
thor, he repaired immediately to the 
house of Mr. Hanford, in company 
with his wife and brother, and in the 
presence of several of Mr. Hanford's 
friends, also of Mrs. Hanford, he de- 
manded an immediate and written re- 
traction, that he might have it pub- 
lished in the morning papers, to coun- 
teract the statement which had been 
read before the Council, and which 
would also appear. Mr. Hanford de- 
clared that he was able to fully sub- 
stantiate what he had said, and would 
proceed to do so at the proper time 
and place. Mr. Sullivan demanded 
immediate retraction, and Mr. Hanford 
refused, whereupon Mr. Sullivan, call- 
ing him a villain ami a dog, struck 
him, and they both fell to the ground. 
The parlies were here separated, when 
Mrs. Sullivan and her husband's broth- 
er came up, and a scuffle ensued be- 
tween them and Mr. Hanford, during 
which Mrs. Sullivan called out that 
Mr. Hanford had struck her. Mr. 
Sullivan immediately produced a pis- 
tol and shot Mr. Hanford, who was 
carried into the house, where he died 
in half an hour. Mr. Sullivan was ar- 
rested and examined before a coro- 
ner's jury, who rendered the following 
verdict : 

" That the said Francis Hanford, 
now lying dead at No. 267 Oak Street, 
in the city of Chicago, County of 
Cook, and State of Illinois, came to 
his death on the 7th day of August, 



818 



CHEONOLOGY. 



1876. 1876, from a pistol-shot wound inflict- 
ed by a pistol or revolver in the hands 
of Alexamlrr Sullivan, and therefore 
•we, the jiirv, rK.iiiimcnd the coroner 
to hold sail! Ali.xaiiilcr Sullivan for 
further examination lici'ore the Crim- 
inal Court without bail." 

Siinivatis Trial. 
" The first trial of Alexander Sullivan for 
the murder of Francis Hauford, began 
October 16th, in the Criminal Court 
of Chicago, liefore Judge McAllister, 
the only Judge in the county who, as 
alleged, was not prejudiced against 
him. The Court was crowded with 
spectators. Great difficulty was ex- 
perienced in securing a jury. The 
fourth day the 12tli juror was secured, 
and proceedings began. Counsel for 
the defense, W. W. O'Brien, Thomas 
Moran, and Leonard Swett; Col. Van 
Arman assisted Charles Reed, the 
State's Attorney, in the prosecution. 
On Wednesday, Oct. 34th, at 5.30 p.m., 
the jury retired. When tliey returned, 
they declared a disagreement of eleven 
to one; whereupon Judge McAllister 
discharged the jury, and admitted Mr. 
Sullivan to bail. After the trial there 
was a good deal of dissatisfaction ex- 
pressed as to its results. A petition 
was circulated, and signed by 8,000 
persons, citizens of the county, pray- 
ing the resignation of Judge McAllis- 
ter. The petition was presented to 
him in the Court-room by a commit- 
tee of respectable and dignified gentle- 
men of the county, to which he paid 
no attention, except to order his clerk 
to put it on file. 

The second trial of Mr. Sullivan for 
the murder of Francis Hanford began 
Feb. 28th, 1877, and closed March 9th, 
when the jury returned a verdict of 
"Not guilty," and Mr. Sullivan was 
released, and walked out of Court a 
free man amid the cheers and con- 
gratulations of his friends. 

'' Aug. 1-5. Entire business portion of 
Westport, N. Y., destroyed by fire. 

" Aug. 19. Death of Hon. Michael C. 
Kerr, Speaker of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, aged 49 years. 

" Sept. 1. Isaac Washburn died at Liver- 
more, Me., at the age of ninety-one 
years. He was the fother of ex-Gov. 
AVashburn, of Maine, Eliliu B. Wash- 
burn, Minister to France, and ex-Gov. 
Cadwalader C. Washburn, of Wiscon- 

" Sept. 4. Town of St. Hyacinthe, Ontario, 
destroyed by fire. 600 houses burned 
and 4,000 people homeless. 

T/ie Yon!;er Brothers and Hie 
Norihfield Bank Robbery. 

" Sept. 7. Bold attempt of eight armed 
desperadoes on horseback to rob a bank 
in open day, in Northfield, Price Coun- 
ty, Minn. Five of tbe gang remained 
outside to guard the entrance, shoot- 
ing indiscriminately to frighten the 
citizens, while the other three entered 
the bank, springing over the counter, 
and holding a knife at the throat of the 
cashier, J. C. Haywood, ordering him 
to open the vault, while the other two 
compelled the assistant cashier and 
clerk to hold up their hands. Hay- 



wood refused to open the vault, and 
they shot him dead on the spot. They 
then ordered his assistant to open it, 
but he denied knowing the combina- 
tion, and ran out of the back door, re- 
ceiving a wound in the shoulder. 
Meanwhile the citizens collected, and 
opened fire upon the robbers outside, 
killing two and wounJing one. The 
remaining five escaped, carrying the 
wounded one along. They failed, how- 
ever, in securing the money. Great 
excitement prevailed, and the whole 
country were aroused and in hot pur- 
suit. But for two weeks they were 
unable to capture them. Upon the 
31st of September, four of them, on 
foot, entered tbe farm-house of Mr. 
Sanborn, eight miles from Medalia, to 
procure food. A son of the farmer, 
seventeen years of age, against the 
wishes of his father, took a horse from 
the stable and rode as fast as he could 
to Medalia, and aroused the citizens, 
and about fifty men, armed and on 
horseback, pursued them. They came 
upon the robbers five miles west of 
the town, while they were crossing a 
marsh, which the pursuers could not 
cross with their horses. They sur- 
rounded the marsh, and found them 
secreted on one sid" in tin- Ini^hcs and 
tall grass. The r.rkh ,^ f, Hows fire 
upon their pursuur-, \\hi> nturned i 
wounding three and killing om 
Three of the gang confessed to being 
the notorious " Yonger Brothers," well 
known as robbers and highwaymen. 
They were the most cool and desperate 
of characters, and defended themsel 
to the last with a courage worthy of a 
better cause. They w'cre tried and 
plead guilty, and were sentenced to 
three years "in the Penitentiary. 

Sept. 8. Tweed arrested at Vigo, Spain, 
and returned to the United States. 

Sept. 13. Death nf Eenry Alexander Wise, 
Governor of Virginia and Brig.-Gen. in 
the Confederate army, aged 70 years. 

Bishop Janes. 

Sept. ] 8. Death of Rev. Edmund Slover 
.Janes, Senior Bishop of the M. E. 
Church. 

Sept 23. Disaster on the Pan-Handle 
Railroad near Columbus, O. Four cars 
rolled down an embankment. Over 
thirty persons seriously injured and 
four killed. 

Yellow fever at Savannah, Augusta, and 
Brunswick, Ga. Out of a population 
of 3,500 in Brunswick, there were 600 
cases. The Howards of New Orleans 
sent physicians and nurses. 



Mollie Maguires. 

Oct. Trials, sentences, and executions of 
Mollie Maguires in the mining districts 
of Pennsylvania. A dangerous Order 
and secret organization which com- 
mitted many cold-blooded murders. 

Oct. 13. A terrible boiler explosion in 
Pittsburg, Pa. Sixty persons buried 
in the ruins ; iifty-seven killed and 
wounded. The shock was felt dis- 
tinctly two miles from the wreck. The 
ruins took fire and the scene was 
heart-rending. 

Nov. AVoman's National Temperance 
Conventicm held in Cleveland ; sixteen 
States represented. 



1876. Dam of the great Lynde Brook Reservoir, 
near Worcester, Mass., gives way, and 
a vast amount of property destroyed. 

Attetnpi to Bob Lincobi's Grave. 

Nov. 7. Dastardly attempt to rob the 
grave of President Lincoln, at Spring- 
field, 111., by a couple of desperadoes, 
IMullinS and Hughes. They were 
tried June 1, 1877, found guilty, and 
sentenced to one year each in the 
Penitentiary. 

Senate passed a bill reducing the salaries 
of all Government officials. 

Nov. 16. Rcuohition in Mexico; defeat of 
the Government army under Gen. Diaz. 

Nov. 18. Fall of Puebla. 

Nov. 31. Flight of President Lerdo from 
the capital with half a million in 
money, escorted by 1,000 men, 16 
carriages, and 100 extra horses. 

Nov. 33. Gen. Diaz enters the City of 
j\Iexico in the midst of splendid demon- 
stration, and the leading towns and 
cities declare allegiance to his Govern- 
ment. 

Nov. 34. Lerdo's escort forsake him, 
leaving him but 300 men. 

Nov. 3oT Gen. Diaz was officially an- 
nounced as Provisional President. 

War lietween San Salvador and Guate- 

Revolution in Honduras. 

Col. Balta, President of Peru, was mur- 
lered, and was succeeded by Prado, 
who was elected for four years. 

Burning of the Brooklyn Theater. 
Dec. 5. Burning of the Brooklyn Theater, 
which took fire from the wind blowing 
one of the flies upon the stage against 
a gas-jet, which w.as unprotected. 376 
lives were reported lost, among whom 
were H. S. Murdock, a very popular 
actor, and Claude Burroughs, a young 
actor of rising reputation. The 
majority of these unfortunate victims 
were from the third tier, and the great 
destruction was caused by the stair- 
ways and lobby giving way, precipitat- 
ing the whole mass below, kdling and 
smothering them in a great heap, for 
the terrible holocaust awaiting them. 

E.xtraordinary Meteor. 
Dec. 31. Passage of an extraordinary 
meteor from S. E. to N. W., which was 
witnessed from Kansas to Pennsylvania 
and from Wisconsin to Kentucky, and 
described as being as large as an 
ordinary washtub, with a tail nearly 
400 feet in length, producing a noise, 
in some places, which was described. 
as louder than a whole battery, and 
lighting up the sky with a vivid 
glow. 



Cremation. 

Dec. 6. The first furnace built at Wash- 
ington, Penn., by Dr. F. J. Le Moine, 
and cost |1,600. 

Dec. 6. The first public cremation was 
that of the body of Baron de Palm. 
The body was placed in the retort at 
8J A. M., and at 10.4') the cremation 
was declared to be complete. The 
direct cost of the operation was |7.04. 
Tlie body was wrapped in a sheet 



CHRONOLOGY. 



saturated with alum, to i^revent ex- 1 187 
poBure after tlie cloth was burned away, 
aud was surrounded with flowers and 



rgreens. 



About an hour after the 



burning began, a rose-colored, misty 
light surrounding the body was ob- 
served, lu another hour, the body 
had become red-hot, and the rosy mist 
bad turned to a golden color. The 
ashes of the deceased were placed in an 
urn made for that purpose. 

Ashtabula Horror. 
Dec. 29. A disaster, the most appalling 
in its nature which ever occurred in 
the history of railway travel, took place 
at a bridge near Ashtabula station in 
Ohio, at about eight o'clock in the 
evening. A passenger-train of eleven 
cars, bearing 160 human beings, went 
down with the bridge into a dreadful 
chasm 70 feet in depth and into the 
creek below, the wreck taking fire im- 
mediately. The weather was extremely 
cold, and a blinding snow-storm was 
driving before a furious gale. One 
hundred persons were killed outright 
or burned to death. The flames spread 
so rapidly, and the heat was so great, 
that those buried in the di'bris or held 
fast in the wreck could not be extricated, 
and were left to their fate. But two 
or three of the sixty persons rescued 
escaped injury, and several died from 
their wounds. Taken altogether, this 
was the most terrible railroad disaster 
which has ever occurred in this coun- 
try. Mr. P. P. Bliss, the noted revival 
singer, with his wife, were among the 
victims. 

The Coroner s Verdict. 
The verdict of the coroner's jury in 
the Ashtabula disaster, was " that the 
fall of the bridge was the result of de- 
fects and errors made in designing, 
constructing, and erecting it ; that 
the railroad company continued to use 
this bridge for over ten years without 
attempting to discover the defects, 
which were perfectly apparent to any 
practical engineer; also, that the cars 
were not heated with a proper ap- 
paratus, so that fire could be imme- 
diately extinguished in case of acci- 
dent ; that the failure to use the steam- 
pump in the pumping-house, and the 
means prepared to extinguish the fire 
was the direct fault of those who were 
first on the ground ; also, that the 
chief engineer failed to use the fire- 
engine and hose in extinguishing the 
flames before the bodies of the victims 
were consumed ; and for the casualty 
and its fearful results the railroad com- 
pany were responsible. 

Belknap's Fall. 
This year was noted for the exposure of 
" official corruptions " and " wicked- 
ness in high places." The " Whisky 
Frauds," involving the President's 
Private Secretary and several revenue 
officers ; the ' ' Emma Mine " scandal, 
involving the name of Gen. Schenck ; 
and last, tliough not least, the Secretary 
of War, Gen. Belknap, charged with 
" bribery," or with selling Govern- 
ment appointments. Mr. Caleb B. 
Marsh testified to paying the wife of 



Secretary Belknap $12,000 per annum 
for the post tradership of Fort Sill. 
After a time he found that he could 
not atibrd to pay such a premium, and 
Mi-s. Belknap agreed to accept of 
$6,000 per annum while he held the 
post. One of the worst features of 
this fraud was the fact that this money 
was directly extorted from the poor 
soldiers, who were compelled to pay 
exorbitant prices for all their supplies, 
as the post trader, in order to make 
sufficient profits to meet this " pre- 
mium," and also make his own esti- 
mated profits, must sell an inferior 
article of goods at advanced prices. 
Marsh also testified that this money 
was paid Mrs. Belknap through her 
husband, the Secretary of War. Mr. 
Belknap did not deny the charge, but 
immediately sent in his resignation, 
which was accepted by the President, 
who was, however, not aware of the 
Secretary's bribery at the time. Mr. 
Belknap was immediately arraigned 
before the Senate and tried for im- 
peachment — 37 voting " guilty " and 
25 " not guilty." A two-thirds vote 
being required to convict him, it was 
ordered that a judgment of acquittal 
be entered, and this court of imiieach- 
ment adjourned iine die. 

Blue Glass Mania. 

Jan. "Wonderful experiments of Gen. 
Pleasonton with blue glass as a healing 
medicine, and the marvelous cures 
which he claimed as resulting from its 
use in windows, caused a general 
excitement throughout the country, 
and advertising received a fresh im- 
petus. " Blue glass " was offered for 
sale in wonderful quantities and at 
marvelous prices. Ilis theory claimed 
that the sunlight admitted through blue 
glass gave a fresh impetus to the 
growth of vegetation and imparted life 
and health to the sick. 

Jan. 3. Great fire in Lykens (Pa.) coal 
mines. 1,000 men thrown out of em- 
ployment. 

Terrific fire-damp explosion in a coal 
mine near Pittsburg ; six men killed 
and seven wounded. 

At a fire in Montreal, Ontario, the red- 
hot walls of a burning brick building 
fell outward and buried over a score of 
firemen beneath them ; nine were 
killed outright and ten were very 
seriously injured. 

Great Political Excitement. 

Great excitement prevailed over the 
whole Union in consequence of the 
contested election of the President. 
According to the official returns, 
Rutherford B. Hayes was declared 
elected by a majority of one. The con- 
test arose over the official correctness 
of the certificates of Florida, South 
Carolina, and Louisiana, which were 
questioned by the Democratic party. 
A committee was chosen to investigate 
the matter, composed of Senators, 
Representatives, and Judges of the 
Supreme Court, which decided in 
fiivor of the election of Hayes over Mr. 
Tilden, the Democratic candidate. 
Federal troops withdrawn from South 
Carolina and Louisiana. 



Raivhide — Duel. 
Jan. 3. James Gordon Bennett, proprietor 
of the New York Herald, was publicly 
whipped on Fifth Avenue, New York, 
by Frederick May, whose sister Ben- 
nett was engaged to marry. The 
trouble originated in the alleged dis- 
respect shown Miss May and her 
fiimily by his failure to appear upon 
the evening set for the marriage 
ceremony to take place. This alterca- 
tion resulted in a challenge from Ben- 
nett to fight a duel, which took place 
Jan. 8th, in Maryland. Neither of the 
principals were injured, and Bennett 
sailed immediately for Europe. 

Vanderbilt. 

Jan. 4. Death of Cornelius Vanderbilt. 
a great capitalist and railroad king. 
He was born on Staten Island in 1794. 
At the age of 16 he bought a vessel, 
and at the age of 18 he owned two and 
was captain of another, and when 19 
he married, and bought sloops and 
schooners, and when 23 years of age 
was worth $9,000, and free from debt. 
When he was 30 years old he had full 
control of the Gibbons line of steam- 
ers, which he brought up to paying 
$40,000,000. Mr. Vanderbilt now turned 
his attention to railroad speculations, 
buying, building, and controlling them, 
until he was the acknowledged " Rail- 
road King." He managed a line of 
road 2,128 miles" in length, the aggre- 
gate value of which was estimated at 
$149,000,000, half of which belonged 
to Mr. Vanderbilt and his family. At 
the time of his death his wealth was 
variously estimated at from $60,000,- 
000 to $100,000,000, all but $15,000,000 
of which he left to his son William. 
His will, however, was contested. 
William succeeded his father as Presi- 
dent of the New York Central Railroad. 
Mr. Vanderbilt gave $700,000 to Van- 
derbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., 
and $.50,000 to the Church of the 
Strangers in New York. 

Reign of Terror in South America. 

Jan. 12. Civil war in Colombia between 
the Liberals and Conservatives. Gen. 
Pena, at the head of 2,500 wild and 
reckless desperadoes and drunken 
thieves, advanced from town to town, 
sacking, robbing, and destroying every- 
thing in their path, killing every Con- 
servative without distinction. The 
city of Coli was utterly ruined, and the 
most of its male citizens destroyed 
with their homes and property. 

Jan. 13. Heavy earthquake in Southern 
California. 

Jan. 24. Fire in Bolton collieries ; 15 
lives lost. 

Commodore Wilkes. 

Feb. 8. Death, in Washington, of Charles 
Wilkes, an American naval officer and 
explorer of much renown. He sailed, 
in 1838, with a squadron of five vessels, 
to explore the southern seas and 
islands, the Pacific coast, and the 
Columbia River. He returned in 1842, 
and published a description of his ex- 
pedition. During the war of the Rebel- 
lion Capt. Wilkes did excellent service 



CHRONOLOGY. 



in the navy, and was commissioned as 
Commander, and placed first on the 
list. lie captured the notorious rebel 
commissioners, Mason and SlidcU, for 
■which he received a vote of thanks 
from Congress, but his action was not 
approved by the President, upon the 
ground of illegality, and the commis- 
sioners were surrendered. In 1866 he 
received the commission of Rear Ad- 
miral on the retired list. 

Feb. 37. Meeting of the Alabama 
Claims Commissioners, in Washington, 
■with Secretary Fish presiding. 

Mar. Bursting of the Staffordsville reser- 
voir, on the east branch of the Wil- 
limantic. Conn., causing great destruc- 
tion of property. 

Execution of Lee, the ''Mountain 
Meadnv " Murderer. 
Mar. 23. Execution of John D. Lee, 
one of the leaders in the "Mountain 
Meadow " massacre, a wholesale butch- 
ery of an emigrant train by the Mor- 
mons over twenty years before. Lee 
was shot on the very ground where the 
massacre occurred. He made out a 
■written statement, confessing com 
plicity in the crime, but declared that 
he was forced to carry out the "orders 
of the council," which were given by 
Bishop Geo. A. Smith, Brigham 
Young's first counselor and right-hand 
man, and that he was sacrificed by the 
Mormon leaders, and was not responsi- 
ble for the massacre; that he repented 
having anything to do with it at the 
time, but that he was forced to carry 
out the project or lose his life. The -wit- 
nesses in the case, however, proved the 
entire guilt of Lee. They were Mor- 
mons, and bore united testimony, yet 
a Mormon .jury refused to convict the 
participators. 

The evidence in the case showed 
that the emigrants were decoyed from 
their camp under pretensions of friend- 
ship and assurances of protection, 
when they were suddenly fired upon, 
and all but the youngest children, who 
would not be able to remember the oc- 
currence, were killed. The wounded 
had their throats cut or their brains 
were beaten out by the Indians, as it 
was claimed. They were left on the 
ground, piled in heaps, for the wolves 
and wild beasts to devour. Their 
property was sold at auction under the 
express order of President Young. Over 
100 innocent victims perished in this 
bloody slaughter by the hands of a 
class of people claiming to be the 
"Saints of God," ami the only true 
Church of Oud on earth! That other 
participators in this bloody butchery, 
and especially the "heads of the 
Mormon Church," were not arrested 
and brought to justice, is a standing 
question for our Government to answer, 
and will remain a lilack and cursed 
Btain upon its honor while it has a 
history. 

SQuthern Hotel. 
April 11. Burning of the great Southern 
Motel, at St. Louis, six stories in height 
and covering nearly a block. Twenty 
jicrsons perished and several others 
supposed to be lost. A number lost 
their lives, or were maimed for life, by 






was a torrilile disaster, and caused a 
general inquiry into the best means of 
protecting life by fire-escai^es, and also 
into the" best mode of constructing 
fire-proof hotels. 

" Parson BrownlouK'' 

April 29. Death of William Ganaway 
Brownlow, a clergyman, journalist, and 
politician, at Knoxville, Tenn. _ Mr. 
Brownlow was boru in Virginia in 
1805 ; entered the Methodist minis- 
try in 1826, and for ten years was an 
itinerant preacher. Mr. Brownlow be- 
came interested in polities during the 
Administration of John Quinccy Adams, 
and opposed the "XuUification Meas- 
ures" of the South. He lu-c^an edit- 
ing the Kno.rvilh: Whi^j in l^^:'.7, and 
was soon known ;is tlic " li;;hting par- 
son," from his riuliral and cduibative 
editorials and lectures. lu politics 
Mr. Brownlow was a Democrat and 
pro-slavery, but he was loyal to the 
Government, and a virulent opposer of 
secession. He was arrested for treason 
against the Confederacy in 1861, and 
was imprisoned till March. Is62, when 
he was sent within the Union lines. 
He traveled and k-ctund extensively 
through the Nortli, and rctunie(l t( 
Tennessee in 1S04, becoming its t!ov- 
ernor in 186.5. In ISOtt he was elected 
to the United States Senate for a term 
of six years, after which he again re- 
sumed the editorial control of the 
Whig. 

Chishobn Tragedy. 

April 39. Cold-blooded assassination of 
Judge Chisholm, of Kemper County, 
Miss., and the killing of his little son 
and wounding of his brave young 
daughter of 18, who died of her 
wound soon after. This tragedy, and 
the fact that every ]iliysi(i:,n in the 
place refused to atdnil upon her dying 
father and hersrli', r. v,:il tlir state of 
terrorism which luivaih^'l under the 

reign of tl Wliite l.cauur " in the 

South. An arnird liau.l ..f 'JuO " chiv- 
alrous " white men attaeked this 
family, and after the brave young girl 
had, with her right arm, parried the 
guns of several of those " courageous 
defenders of tlieir rights," which were 
placed almost au'iuist her father's 
breast,- while « ilh tin- ..th.T arm around 
her wounded lather's nick, she received 
a wound which shattered her right 
hand, and was six times wounded in 
one of her legs. Her father at last 
fell, pierced with eleven balls. He stdl 
lived, and with the h. Ip of one of the 
guards, this heroic -iri lielped to liear 
her father to their home, a distance of 
over 100 yards. Her young lirother of 
thirteen years was shot dead while 
clinging to his father. Gov. Stone, of 
Miss., refused to send aid and protec- 
tion to this distressed family. The 
great crime for which Judge Chisholm 
was guilty was his stanch adherence 
to the Government, and his a'tempt to 
enforce the laws as sheriff of the 
county. 
May. Yellow fever in Florida. 



May. Terrible forest fires in Northern 
New York. Whole counties devas- 
tated and everything swept away ; the 
]icople left destitute and fleeing in 
every direction for their lives. 

Jlay 6. Surrender of 900 hostile Indians 
under Crazy Horse, at the Red Cloud 
Agency. 

Mav. Fire-ilamp explosion at the Wadeg. 
ville Shaft Colliery of the Philadelphia 
and Reading Coal and Iron Co. Seven 
lives were lost. 

May 9. Earthquake and tidal wave in 
I'eru; several towns destroyed and 
6n0 lives lost; many ships were de- 
stroyed. Loss of property amounted 
to $30,000,000. 

May. Land slide in St. Genevieve, Cana- 
da ; ten persons buried alive. 

Mav 9. Death of Commodore Benjamin 
J. Totten, aged 71. 

Rockford Disaster. 
May 11. The fall of the dome of the 
new Court-house at Rockford, 111., kill- 
ing nine men outright and wounding 
eleven more. The coroner's jury de- 
cided that the cause was produced by 
the incompetency and neglect of the 
architect, also the neglect of the super- 
visors to examine the work and see 
that it was properly executed. 

Wholesale Poisoning. 

May 14. Poisoning of sixty miners at 
Sheator, 111., the result of a quarrel 
among the striking employes. All of 
the miners recovered. 



P. T. Barnum. 

Jlav I!'. V. T. Barnum ofiered a reward 
oVsIil.iiOO for the restoration ofCharlie 
i;o-s to his jiarents, pledging his honor 
]iot to take any steps to seek out or 
jiunish the parties involved in his sur- 
render. This offer was sanctioned by 
the parents of the lost child. 

Fletcher Harper. 
May 29. Death of Fletcher Harper, the 
last of the four brothers who founded 
the House of Harper Brothers in New 
York. Fletcher had charge of the 
Literary Department, and suggested 
both the Weelly and the Bazar. 

End of Fcnianism. 

May 29. A gathering of Fenians, to the 
nund:ier of 1,500, was dispersed at Ma- 
lone, N. Y., by a body of United States 
troops. They were congregated with- 
out means of carrying on an aggressive 
warfare — without money or friends to 
back them, and were at the time the 
troops arrived subjects of charity in 
the city. Their prominent officers 
agreed "to diseountenjince any further 
hostilities <m the American Continent. 
The memhcrs were generally discour- 
aged, and willing to disband and 
aband in the enterprise and go home. 

Great Forest Fires. 

Mav 30. Great forest fires in Wisconsin 
and Michigan ; over 1,500,000,000 feet 
of standing pine logs burned. 

May. Great forest fires in Saguenay 
County, Canada. Over 1,000 families 



CHKONOLOGY. 



821 



1877. were rendered homeless and perfectly 
destitute. The conflagration covered 
a space of 1,500 square miles ; 15 per- 
sons known to liave lost their lives. 

John Lothrop Motley. 

" Death of John Lothrop Motley, LL.D. 
Mr. Motley was a historian of consid- 
erable fame. He was the author of 
tlie " History of New Netherlands," 
"Rise of the Dutch Republic," and 
other works. 

" June 1. Onota, Mich., burned; 300 
people rendered homeless. 

" I June 4. Destructive tornado in Illinois, 
at Mount Carmel. Sixteen lives were 
lost, and property amountin<r to five 
hundred thousand dollars destroyed. 

" June. Fire in Marblehead, Mass. Sev- 
eral large shoe-factories and about 
seventy dwellings burned. 

Ostracism. 
" June 13. Refusal of Judge Hilton to 
admit James Seligman, a well-known 
and influential banker of New York, 
and his family to his hotel in Saratoga, 
the Grand Union, declaring that he 
could not open his house to Jews on 
account of a prejudice existing against 
them among the class who patronized 
his hotel. The afRiir created a great 
deal of newspaper comment and criti- 
cism througliout the country, the press 
generally condemning Judge Hilton 
in severe terms. A great deal of 
excitement was aroused among the 
Jews as a class, since Mr. Seligman 
had, with his family, for a period of 
half a score of years, been regular sum- 
mer guests at Hilton's hotel 

Great Fire in St. John. 
'' June 20. Destructive fire in St. John, 
N. B. The principal part of the city, 
or forty blocks, were destroyed, and 
thirteen lives reported to be lost, and 
many were missing. The loss in prop- 
erty was valued at from 110,000,000 to 
$ia,000,000. It was a terrible disaster 
to the Province, as the fire was, in 
proportion to the size of the city, 
greater than even that of Chicago or 
Boston, and the same appalling cir- 
cumstances attended this also. The 
very elements seemed combined to 
overpower the might and wisdom of 
man, and make the destruction com- 
plete. Aid was immediately forwarded 
from Canada and New England, and 
subscriptions were raised in most of 
the large cities tliroughout the Union 
for the relief of the sufferers. 

Robert Dale Omen. 
" June 24. Death of Robert Dale Owen, 
an American author, at Lake George, 
N. Y. He was the son of Robert 
Owen, of Socialistic renown, and like 
his father, advocated to an extent 
similar principles. He was for a long 
time a resident of New Harmony, the 
society and town wliich his father 
established. Mr. Owen was, from 1843 
to 1847, a Member of Congress, and 
was one of the founders of the Smith- 
sonian Institute. In 1850 he was a 
member of the Convention which 
amended the Constitution of Indiana, 



in which, and also in the St.ate Legis- 
lature, he introduced measures secur- 
ing to the women of Indiana independ- 
ent rights of property. From 1855-8 
he was Minister to Naples. Mr. Owen 
was for many years a strong advocate 
of Spiritualism, and wrote several 
works in its defense ; also a number of 
works on reform. 
June 25. Violent wind-storms in Ohio, 
Illinois, low.a, and Nebraska, doing 
much damage to property and destroy- 
ing many lives. 

Mollic Magiiires. 

June 27. Hanging of six Mollie Ma- 
guires at Pottsville, Pa. This organi- 
zation dates back to 1842, and to Ire- 
land for their origin. They were 
then known as Ribbonmen of Ireland, 
and were organized in resistance to 
paying rents. A branch of this so- 
ciety was organized in the United 
States, and known as the "Buckshots," 
who became so formidable in 1863 
that the courts in Carbon Co., Pa., 
were powerless to execute a criminal 
who belonged to that Order. The Order 
known as the "Ancient Order of 
Hibernians," became merged into the 
Mollie Maguires, which society was 
instituted in New York, March 10, 
1871, and was also incorporated under 
the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. 
James McParlan, an agent of Allan 
Pinkerton, the great United States 
detective, was emi^loyed to search out 
the nature and secrets of this society, 
and he was for a long time a recognized 
member of the Order and participator 
in their operations, in so far as he 
could do so without committing any 
overt criminal act. He discovered 
their crimes and their extensive opera- 
tions, and was the means of detecting 
a large number of the ring-leaders and 
bringing them to justice. Vigilance 
Committees were formed, and the Mol- 
lies were hunted and vigorously pur- 
sued. The mountains were infested 
with them, and murders were of fre- 
quent occurrence. 

Colorado Stone Man or Petrified 
Giant. 

Again were the public humbugged and 
the scientists hoodwinked by another 
" petrified man." This last wonder was 
" dug up " at Colorado Springs, and 
Barnum's agent was forthwith dis- 
patched to " interview " it ; an interest 
was purchased, and preparations were 
made to "bring it out" under the 
auspices of the "great showman." But, 
alas, for the aspirations of the devoted 
modern humbuggers, the wonder was 
exposed, and another " Cardifl^ giant " 
was revealed with all his "perfections 
of art " The thing was concocted by 
the same gigantic brain, and per- 1 
fected in a remote hamlet of Pennsyl- 
vania and carried to Colorado and 
buried. Its original cost was $41.45. 
It was composed of Portland cement, 
and cast in molds separately and put 
together. 

Extra session of"Congress called by the 
President. 

July 7. Pensatikee Station, III., de- 
stroyed by a tornado; six lives were 
lost. 



Railroad and Labor Strikes. 

July-Aug. Great and extensive labor 
strikes occasioned by a general reduc- 
tion of ten per cent, in wages. The 
strike began with train hands on the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on July 
14th, and spread rapidly over all the 
roads between New England and the 
Mississippi River. No freights were 
allowed to move either way on several 
roads. On the 18th the Governor of 
West Virginia called upon the National 
Government for aid. The President 
responded promptly by sending a mili- 
tary company, and is^ing a proclama- 
tion to the rioters. The strike now 
extended to the Pennsylvania and 
Erie Railroads, and at Pittsburg it as- 
sumed its most formidable proportions. 
The freight men refused to go out with 
their trains because the company had 
increased their work without increasing 
their pay. The Governor of Maryland 
called out the troojis, and the rioters 
attacked them while marching through 
Baltimore. The regiment returned the 
fire, killing eight and wounding many 
others. The Governor of Pennsylvania 
sent the 18th Regiment to suppress the 
riot at Pittsburg. They were so 
stoutly resisted by the mob that they 
resorted to the round-house for defense. 
They were vigorously besieged here by 
the rioters, who had procured three 
cannon and sufficient arms to make a 
formidable assault. The mob now 
began burning the property of the rail- 
road company. A mile in length of 
cars were on fire, and the greater por- 
tion of them were filled with merchan- 
dise. Some of these burning cars they 
pushed against the round-house, setting 
it on fire, and driving out the soldiers 
and causing them to retreat. The 
flames rapidly spread, but the fire de- 
partment were powerless to protect the 
railroad property, as the mob forbid 
their attempting it. But the property 
of citizens was protected, and when any 
building of a private citizen caught 
fire, the rioters immediately helped to 
suppress the flames. The railroad 
company lost about $5,000,000, and 
about 50 men were killed and 100 
wounded. The depredations were 
mostly committed by tramps, vaga- 
bonds, and thieves, who swelled the 
ranks of the rioters and plundered 
the trains and the property of private 
citizens. The originators of the strike 
proposed only to prevent any work or 
passage of freights over the difierent 
roads, but tramps and thieves made it 
an occasion to pillage and plunder, and 
flocked like vultures to the banquet. 
It soon reached Chicago, but the labor 
element had become somewhat appalled 
by the forward movement of the roughs 
and idle vagabonds who were deter- 
mined to take everything into their 
own hands and ruin the city. A mob 
of nearly 1,500 collected and marched 
through the streets to the different car 
shops and freight houses, also to 
several manufacturing establishments, 
compelling the workmen to cease. 
They also took possession of the stock 
yards, and labor and business was for 
a short time suspended. A few depreda- 
tions were committed, and street cars 
and omnibuses, in a few places, were 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1877. stopped. After several slight skir- 
mishes the police finally succeeded in 
quelling the mob. 



Slaiih- 



Return. 



Aug. Return of Henry M. Stanley, tlie 
great African explorer, from his sec- 
ond visit to Africa, where lie remained 
nine months making many geographic- 
al and scientific discoveries. Since 
his return he has prepared a larfce 
work, with a full account of his travels 
and discoveries. 

Burning of a piano fiictory in New York 
many lives were lost. 



Wi 



B. Ogden. 



Aug. 3. Death of William B. Ogden in 
New York City. Mr. Ogden was born 
in Delaware County, N. Y., and went to 
Chicago in 1835. He was its first 
Mayor, and one of its founders, being 
largely interested in its enterprises and 
progress. In 1860 he was a Member 
of the State Senate. Mr. Ogden was 
the founder of a large lumbering estab- 
lishment in Peshtigo, Wis., and built 
up almost the entire town, which, to- 
gether with his large mills, were de- 
stroyed by the great hurricane of fire 
that swept over the country, Oct. 9th, 
1871, leveling Chicago, and whole 
townships and large districts of coun- 
try in Michigan and Wisconsin. Mr. 
Ogden's lumbering establishment at 
Peshtigo was one of the largest in the 
world. Mr. Ogden was a man of 
great energy of character, and was in- 
terested in everything that advanced 
the public good, and was a very prom- 
inent man in the West. He was the 
first President of the Pacific Railroad 
Company, and also the first President 
of Rush Medical College. He also 
gave encouragement and aid to all the 
scientific and benevolent societies of 
Chicago. Mr. Ogden removed to New 
York in 1860, where he devised a 
plan for an underground railway 
through the city in connection with 
the question of rapid transit. 

Brigham Yoioig. 
Aug. 29. Death of the great Mormon 
leader. Gov. Young, of Utah. He was 
Mormon President, Prophet, and High- 
Priest, and the founder of Salt Lake 
City. Also the founder, in the very 
heart of the Continent, of the nefarious 
and heathenish system of polygamy, 
and successfully defied the great and 
powerful Government of the United 
States, and set up a religious and po- 
litical, or Church and State Govern- 
ment, with himself as the head and 
chief ruler, and instituted and en- 
forced laws and regulations, and ex- 
ecuted the violators of the same with- 
/QUt rnercy or interference, by a secret 
.order pr system known as the Danites, 
of which ije was chief. He was aided 
by twelve cliosen agents, whom he 
was pleased to call the " Twelve Apos- 
tles." The United Staies sent Govern- 
ment oflicials there aijd established a 
United Slates District Court, with 
Judge Drumraond to preside. But he 
was compelled to adjourn his Court 
sine die, at the point of the bo^yicr 
kijife by a Mormon mob, instigated by 



1877. sermons from the heads of the Church. 
Brigham Young ruled in C'linrch and 
State with more power than any mon- 
arch of earth. He was grand tithing 
master, and never gave any account of 
or reiiorted the amount of receipts ; 
and at the time of his death had ac- 
cumulated a large fortune. At the 
time of his death. Young had twenty 
living wives and eight dead, besides 
54 " spiritual wives," senled to him for 
eternity, and was the father of sixty- 
four children. 

" Sept. 28. Great fire in Providence, R. I. ; 
loss $675,300 and three lives. 

" Sejrt. 29. Death of Henry Meiggs, the 
great railroad contractor, in Peru, South 
America. 

" Oct. 10. Loss of the schooner Magellan 
on Lake Michigan ; _eight lives lost. 

" Oct. 19. Army appropriation bill passed. 

" Oct. 20. Great fire in Portland, a sub- 
urb of St. John, New Brunswick; loss 
$300,000 and several lives. 

" Oct. 24. Loss of the Huron off the coast 
of North Caroliua; nearly 100 lives 
lost. 

Oliver P. Mortem. 

" Nov. 1. Death of Oliver Perry Morton, 
United States Senator and great " war 
Governor " of Indiana. He raised funds 
for carrying on the State Government 
and for the support of the Federal 
authorities during the war on his own 
responsibility, as the Democratic Legis- 
lature opposed his using the State 
funds for that purpose. He wielded 
more influence in the Republican party 
than almost any other man since the 
war. Mr. Morton was the champion 
of the Fifteenth Amendment, and re- 
ceived the second highest number of 
votes on the Republican ticket for 
President in the canvass that elected 
Hayes. 

" Nov. 4. Earthquake shocks felt in New 
England, Middle States, and Lower 
Canada. 

" Nov. 15. Earthquake shocks felt in 
Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Dakota. 

" Nov. 23. Fishery Commission sitting 
at Halifax, N. S., gave a verdict against 
the United States, and awarded Great 
Britain the sum of $5,500,000. 

" Dec. 5. Loss of the Pacific steamship 
Atamca. otf Chili, with 73 lives. 

" Dec. 8. True bill found against General 
Bal.icock by the grand jury of St. 
Louis. The verdict of the trial was 
favorable to Gen. Babcock. 

" Dec. 20. Explosion in a confectionery 
manufactory. New York City ; 10 killed 
and 42 injured. 

" Ku-Klux hill prrssed by Congress. 

" Loss of the steamer Alabama, with 70 
lives. 

■' Agitation of the civil service question, 
and a Board of Commissioners ap- 
pointed. 
878. Jan. Agitation of communistic princi- 
])les among the laboring 
pecially active in Chicago. 

" Jan. Mexican raids into Texas. 



Nitre- Glyeerine. 
Jan. 2. Fearful nitro-glycerine explo- 
sion on board a freight train on the 
Northwestern Railroad, near Lake Su- 
perior. Seven men were instantly 
killed and several seriously injured. 



1878. Jan. 13. Wreck of the steamer Metrop- 
olis, from Philadelphia to Brazil, on the 
coast of North Carolina ; 100 lives were 
lost. 
" Jan. 16. Death of Samuel Bowles, 
editor of the Springfield, Mass., Re- 
jiiiUicMn, and one of the most noted 
journalists of America, aged 52 years. 

Great Theologieal Discussion. 

" Jan .-Feb. Great discussion throughout 
the theological world upon the nature 
of future punishment, and concerning 
the existence and origin of a place 
called " Hell." The discussion was 
started by a sermon preached by Rev. 
Henry Ward Beecher, in which he ig- 
nored the existence of a place of tor- 
ment and the doctrine of literal tor- 
ment or pu7iisliment after death. 

" Feb. 11. Death of Hon. Gideon Welles, 
ex-Secretary of War, in Hartford, Conn., 
aged 75 years. 

Cremation. 

" Feb. 15. The body of Mrs. Pittman, 
wife of Benn Pittman, of Cincinnati, of 
jihonographic notoriety, was cremated 
at Washington, Pa., by Dr. Le Moyne. 

" Mar. 2. Tornado in Casey County, Ky. 
Great destruction of property and sev- 
eral lives lost. 



Ben. Wade. 

Mar. 2. Death of Benjamin Franklin 
Wade, an American Senator of great 
ability and moral force of character. 
Mr. Wade, like the great majority of 
American statesmen, arose from ob- 
scurity and worked his way up, by his 
own manly and untiring exerti(ms, to a 
position of great eminence and respon- 
sibility in the Government. He was 
first an Ohio State Senator in 1837, and 
a United States Senator from 1851 to 
1869. He was ever a firm and consist- 
ent opponent of slavery and the slave 
power, and opposed all its measures. 
Upon the assassination of President 
Lincoln he became President of the 
Senate pro tern, and acting Vice-Presi- 
dent. Mr. Wade was a stanch and noble 
defender of the rights of the people, 
and especially of the African slave, and 
politically he was never contaminated 
by compromise of principle or political 
corruption. 

Mar. 4. Bayard Taylor's appointment as 
Minister to Germany confirmed by the 
Senate. 

Blood in California. 

Mar. Disastrous flood in California. The 
levees of the Sacramento River gave 
way, and a vast amount of farming 
lands flooded. Houses were swept 
away, and large numbers of horses, 
cattle, and sheep were drowned. The 
damage amounted to several millions. 

Orangemen and Catholics. 

Mar. 18. Riot in Toronto, Canada, on 
the occasion of a lecture by the Irish 
champion, O'Donovan Rossa. A mob 
of 7,000 roughs surrounded the hall, 
breaking all the window -glass with 
missiles, and driving the speaker and 
audience from the building; 300 per- 
sons were injured— 30 by pistol-shots. 



CHBONOLOGY. 



The affair ended in a prolonged fight 
between the Orangemen and Catholics. 

Mar 34. Hanging of three MoUie Ma- 
guireg in Bloomsburg, Pa. 

Mar. Overthrow of Ultramontanism, or 
rule of the priesthood, in Lower Cana- 
da. The Church had controlled all 
the offices in the Province until the 
Government assumed the entire juris- 
diction. 

Gray's Telephone. 

Practical development of the telephone, 
invented by Elisha Gray, of Chicago, in 
1874, which, in the language of the 
inventor, will transmit vocal sounds 
telegraphically. It is the object of 
this invention to transmit the tones of 
the human voice through a telegraphic 
circuit, and reproduce them at the 
other end of the line, so that actual 
conversation can be carried on by per- 
sons a long distance apart. This won- 
derful invention has more than fulfilled 
the office which its sanguine inventor 
predicted for it, and has opened up a 
new era in the marvelous progress of 
science and the grand march of events. 
In the summer of 1876 Professor A. G. 
Bell, of the Boston University, pro- 
duced an instrument, or telephone ap- 
paratus, by which articulate speech 
could be transmitted over an electric 
circuit and reproduced with distinct- 
ness. 

Professor A. E. Dolbear also added 
an improvement to the telephone the 
same year. In 1878 the invention be- 
came of practical utility, and was quite 
extensively used. 

Mr. Thomas A. Edison, of Menlo 
Park, N. J., has also invented a tel 
phono. 

Edison's Phoftograph. 
The phonograph, or sound-recorder, is a 
device for permanently recording and 
faithfully reproducing at any time or 
place all kinds of sounds, including 
those of the human voice. The speak- 
ing phonograpii was invented by Mr. 
Thomas A. Edison, and is a purely 
mechanical invention, no electricity 
being used. It is, however, somewhat 
allied to the telephone, in consequence 
of the fact that, like the latter, its 
action depends upon the vibratory 
motions of a metallic diaphragm, 
capable of receiving from and trans- 
mitting to the air sound vibrations. 
When a person speaks into the mouth- 
piece of the instiument, which will 
cause the diaphragm to vibrate, and 
as the vibrations of the latter corre- 
spond with the movements of the air 
producing them, soft and yielding tin- 
foil will become marked along the line 
of the groove by a series of indenta- 
tions of different depths, produced by 
a peculiar mechanical combination, 
varying with the amplitude of the 
vibrations of the diaphragm, or, in 
other words, with the inflections or 
modulations of the speaker's voice. 
These inflections may therefore be 
looked upon as a sort of visible speech, 
which, in fact, they really are. If 
now the diaphragm is removed, and 
a cylinder turned, we have only to 
replace the diaphragm and turn in 
the same direction as at first to hear 
repeated all that has been spoken into 



the mouthpiece of the apparatus. A 
stylus by this means being caused to 
traverse its former patli, and conse- 
quently rising and falling with the 
depressinns in the foil, its motion is 
communicated to the diaphragm, and 
thence through the intervening air to 
the ear, where the sensation of sound 
is produced. 

The articulation and quality of the 
phonograph, although not yet per- 
fect, is full as good as the telephone 
was six months ago. The instrument, 
when perfected and moved by clock- 
work, will undoubtedly reproduce 
every condition of the human voice, 
including the whole world of expres- 
sion in speech and song. 

The above brief description of the 
phonograph was condensed from the 
article" in Scrihier's Monthly for April, 
1878, from the pen of C. B. Prcscott. 

April. A riot occurred among the 
miners at Coal Creek, Ind., in conse- 
quence of the proprietors hiring ne- 
groes to work in the mines. There 
existed a " Union " among the miners, 
which determined to drive out the 
colored men. Three negroes were 
killed in the riot. 

April 7. Burning of a portion of the 
poor-house of Steuben County, N. Y. 
One of the insane inmates set fire to 
the building, and 16 persons perished 
in the flames. 



W. 



M. Tweed. 



April 13. Death of William Marcy 
Tweed, the great "Tammany Ring" 
leader, in the jail in New York city. 
He was the moving power in the rob- 
beries connected with the Municipal 
Government, when $50,000,000 were 
stolen from its treasury. 

April 14. Earthquake in Venezuela, de- 
stroying the town of Cucua. 

Cyclone in Iowa. 
April 31. The most terrific tornado that 
was ever experienced in Iowa, accom- 
panied by hail of enormous size, swept 
over Jefferson County, destroying many 
lives and a vast amount of prop- 
ertv. Its track was from one and a 
half to half a mile in width, and ex- 
tended forty miles, carrying terror, 
devastation, and death in its track. 

JoJui Morrissey. 

May 1. Death of John Morrissey, prize- 
fighter, gambler, and United States 
Senator, in Saratoga, N. Y. 

Morrissey was born of very poor 
Irish parents in Ireland, and came 
with his parents to America when but 
three years of age. He was raised in 
poverty, in the city of Troy, N. Y., 
and ail the education he possessed 
he acquired himself, independent of 
schools, learning to read and write 
after he was 19 years old. He grew 
up a very strong, athletic boy, and 
working for several years in rolling- 
mills and stove - foundries, greatly 
aided in the development of his 
muscles. He was for several years the 
leader of a party of roughs and 
rowflies in Troy known as the " Down- 
town party," while the " Up-town 
party" was led by O'Rourke and 



Mackey, two bullies of local reno-sn. 
O'Rourke had whipped every bully in 
the surrounding country. He was 24 
years of age, and a powerfully-bnilt 
man. Morriswy was but 18, yet he 
was then a victor among pugilists. 
Upon the first attack of O'Uouikc 
Morrissey gave him a sound thrashing. 
He was now a " hero," and became 
noted among sporting-men through- 
out the coimtry. 

In 1848-9 he was a deck-hand on a 
North River steamer, and in 1854 
married the daughter of its captain. 
In 1850, with a cimipanion named 
Cunningham, Morrissey started for 
California. Neither of them had suffi- 
cient means to carry them there, so 
they slipped on board a vessel bonnd 
for the new " Eldorado '" and hid 
among the storage, and after three 
days made their appearance. When 
called upon for their tickets, they con- 
fessed their plan, and the captain as- 
sured them that they should never 
reach California, but that he would 
send them home by the first steamer, 
and that they should work their pass- 
age at heaving coal. But when the 
vessel reached Chagres, the natives 
surrounded it in their canoes,_ and 
Morrissey and his comrade slipped 
over its side and dropped into one of 
the boats, and taking the oars, told 
the native he would save his life only 
by keeping still. They rowed to the 
shore and walked to Panama, a dis- 
tance of nearly forty miles, where, with 
their small capital, they began gam- 
bling, and were soon in possession of 
$700. But this being barely half the 
amount required to carry them to San 
Francisco, they continued to gamble 
until they lost it all. Again reduced 
to their first extremity, they watched 
their chance, and when vigilant officers 
were everywhere on the alert to prevent 
hundreds of idle fellows from shipping 
under the same circumstances, they 
slipped on board the lading schooner 
which transported the cargo to the 
Pacific steamer. Arriving alongside, 
they watched their opportunity, pick- 
ed up a large packing-case, and 
carried it on board. They were not 
discovered, and once safely aboard the 
vessel, they forgot to return. The 
next morning, seeing a boy severely 
boxed by a large, fine-looking man, 
Morrissey demanded of him his reason 
for striking the boy, and severely cen- 
sured the act as mean and cowardly. 
He was informed that it was the cap- 
tain of the vessel whom he was repri- 
manding, and when called upon for 
his ticket, and being ob'iged to confess 
his duplicity, the captain said he 
would put them ashore at Acapulco, as 
he thought that would be sufficient 
punishment for them. 

But seemingly destined to good 
luck, Morrissey and his companion 
were unexpectedly relieved from their 
embarrassing situation. The vessel 
was short of provisions, and a mutiny 
arose among the steerage passengers. 
For a reason unknown to Morrissey, the 
captain appealed to him and his com- 
rade to stand by him and the officers 
of the vessel. Morrissey gladly com- 
plied, and the captain armed them 
each with a cutlass and two six- 



CHRONOLOGY. 



sliootiTs, iincl when the mutineers ap- 
Iicari'd, seeiig Morrissey and Cunning- 
ham at the head of the force, tliey im- 
mediately desisted, ami were bi-ought 
to terms by the expUiuations of the cap- 
tain, and his promise to do the best 
for them in his power. The captain 
gave Morrissey and Cunninsham a 
state-room and a" scat at the first talile 
for the rest of the voyage. Arriving 
in San Francisco, Morrissey's friends 
raised his fare from Panama among 
them and tendered it to the captain, 
wliicli was reluspd, and with tlie 
money he set up a gambling saloon 
in the city. He rapidly accumulated 
means, and when a gold excitement 
broke oat in the British Possessions, 
together with several adventurers like 
himself, purchased a small vessel, 
well equipped with guns and ammuni- 
tion, and started fur the place. The 
character of the vessel, and the ap- 
parent object of its mission, prevented 
the Custom-house authorities from 
giving them a clearance, and they 
sHpped off in the night without their 
papers, and sailed as pirates in the 
eyes of the law. It was a perilous 
undertaking, as the distance was 3,000 
miles, and the coast, for a long dis- 
tance, a rough and dangerous one, and 
the British men-of-war which they 
were liable to encoimter would, if they 
were overhauled and found to be sail- 
ing without any proper identification, 
arrest them as pirates and hang them 
to the yard-arm. But nothing daunted, 
they sailed on and reached the place 
without interference ; but finding the 
prospect a poor one for making their 
fortunes, they resolved to return to San 
Francisco. On their way back they put 
in at Vancouver, a British port, and 
found a British man-of-war in the 
harbor. They were in a predicament, 
and Morrissey advised, as the best 
show they could make, to board the 
ship first and state their business, 
and give the captain all the news they 
possessed concerning the new gold- 
fields, and thus detract his attention. 
The card was a lucky one, and took 
amazingly, as the British vessel was 
bound for the new gold region, and 
the captain thanked them kindly for 
tlieir information, and asked them t( 
dine on board the ship. Morrissey'i 
companions were alarmed at their cle 
lay, and feared that their comrades 
had certainly been either placed in 
irons or summarily dispatched a 
pirates. But upon their return to th 
schooner, they had a jollification over 
their "good luck," and during the 
night they slipped out of the harbor 
and disappeared before the British crew 
could return their friendly visit. Ke- 
tuming to San Francisco, they sold 
their vessel ; and as there was great 
excitement among the roughs on ac- 
count of a prize-fight which had oc- 
curred the day of their arrival, and 
the victor had challenged any man in 
California to meet him, Morrissev's 
friends arranged for a fight for |1,000 
a side. They met, and Morrissey 
whipped the champion in ten minutes. 
The same year Morrissey challenged 
any man in America to fight him at 
$10,000 a side. The friends of Tom 
Hyer took up the challenge, but Ilyer 



l)acked out. In 1853 Morrissey whip- 
ped Yankee Sullivan at .*1,000 a side. 
Morrissey won in fifty seven minutes. 
His last fight was with Hoenan, in 
Canada, at $2,.50O a side, Morrissey 
beating in twenty-one minutes. He 
set up a sportinir-house in New York 
on his reluni IVi.m C.ilirornia, where 
he made n ^nol di al of nioncy. lie 
visited Eiiuiand and ircliuid, and wit- 
nessed the fij,'ht between Heenan and 
Sayers. 

in 1861 Morrissey began operations 
in Wall Street ; but he soon lost §.jO,- 
(ill'l— all that he had— in the raid, with 
tlic ( niiiiiKiii ( 'ouncil, against Vander- 
bilr. Jlr Inn ii) wed money and started 
a cluli-liiiu-ic ill Saratoga. 

Durini;- Ihe war his operations in 
Wall Streit were very heavy, and he 
made lar-e sums of monrv." In 18(!G 
Morris^icy was uoumi:'!' <! i^r : '.-Mu'ress, 



were avi'rse to rL(_i.\u;u/.iui; hua, ana 
none were \Yilling to introduce him. 
But Morrissey showed moral, as well 
as physical, courage, and asked Mr. 
Garfield, of Ohio, to introduce him. 
Mr. Garfield assented, and presented 
John Jlorrissey to the United States 
Congress, as a Representative from the 
Fifth District of New York City. He 
was again elected to Congress, in 18GS, 
by 13,000 majority. Morrissey was 
treated with respect, and was never re- 
fused a favor in Congress. His bear- 
ing was universally conceded to have 
been modest, gentlemanly, and intel- 
ligent, and he was never guilty of ac- 
cepting a bribe or betraying his con- 
stituents. In 1869, on " Black Friday," 
Morrissey lost $000,000, but he paid up 
every debt, and started anew in a club- 
house at Saratoga the following year. 
His house cost $250,000, and was con- 
sidered the finest of its kind in the 
world. In 1871 he started a political 
movement known as '' Young Democ- 
racy," for which he was expelled from 
the Tammany Democracy. He joined 
the new Tammany Hall wdien it was 
reorganized, and became a leader, but 
he boasted that he never held office, or 
held a draft on the treasury, and had 
never made one dollar out of the City 
of New York. In 1875 Morrissey was 
elected to the State Senate of New 
York, where he served with credit ; he 
opposed all the measures of the " ring " 
effectually. In 1877 he defeated Schell 
as a candidate for State Senator from 
the Seventh District, one of the most 
aristocratic portions of New York. In 
the contest to win, he worked himself to 
death. When his affairs were all settled, 
it was found that he was worth only 
about $30,000. Although controUing 

stra-llv lloll,■^( in his iiioiirvrd transac- 
tions.' Had 111-, when a lioy, rrctived 
the education his natural talents re- 
quired, and had he been fortunately 
born in a sphere of hfe in which he 
could have received early moral and 
religious culture and training, his 
career would never have been among 
prize-fighters and gamblers. He hai 
an innate sense o!" moral rectitude and 
justice which m.any who were reared 
under far more favorable surroundings 
are destitute of. When we consider 



the destitution and ignorance of his 
condition and surroundings in child- 
hood and early manhood, the great 
wonder is that he could maintain any 
integrity whatever. But that a candi- 
date fro 11 the metropolis of this great 
and enlightened republic could be 
electcil to a seat in its National Con- 
gress, from the very lowest walks in 
life, a niau with no reputation but that 
of a bully or prize-fighter, a gaml)ler, 
and saloon-keeper; and who had often 
been indicted for crimes, and who had 
served a term in the Penitentiary, and 
was leader among the lowest class of 
roughs in a great city, is a severe com- 
ment upon our standard of moral and 
political i.nritv. It also fairly illus- 
trate- tla- w: ik iH.int in tin- form of our 



and degraded upon the same liasis as 
that of the intelligent and educated 
citizen. 

May 2. Great explosion in the Wash- 
burn flour mills at Minneapolis, Minn , 
the largest flouring mill in the world, 
causing the destruction by fire of 
several other large mills. Total value, 
$1,500,000. 17 lives were lost. 

May 10. Senate passed the Bankrupt 
llepeal bill, which should be operative 
from Sept. 1. 

May 12. Death of Catherine E. Beecher, 
sister of Henry Ward Beecher and 
Mrs. Stowe. She was a well-known 
author, and a woman of rare sense and 
virtue. Aged 77 years. 

May 17. Potter's resolurion passed, 
which proposeil an investigation of the 
alleged dec lion IVaiids in^Florida and 
Louisiana. 'I'lie l!e])nldicans refused 
to vote on the re.-oluliou. 

Cyclone in Wisconsin. 
May 25. A terrible tornado in Southern 
Wisconsin, which swept across the 
State from^lineral Point to Milwaukee. 
JetVerson County suffered severely; the 
town of Oakland was swept with the 
" besom of destruction," and over $50,- 
000 worth of property destroyed in 
this town alone. The cyclone passed 
over Cedar Lake, sucking up the water, 
which was precipitated with immense 
force upon the land, which appeared, 
after the storm had abated, as if the 
Mississippi had swept over it. There 
was nothing which could stand before 
its awful fury. The largest trees were 
twisted into shreds, or snapped off 
like pipe-stems. Horses, cattle, men, 
wagons, and portions of buildings were 
carried through the air like feathers. 
The track of this cyclone varied from 
10 to 150 rods in width, and was but 
a little over one hour in traversing the 
State from Mineral Point to Lake 
Michigan. A large number of persons 
were injured and many killed. 

William Ciillcn Bryant. 
June 12. Death of William Cullen Bry- 
ant, the eminent American poet, at the 
age of eighty-four years. The last 
■work of Mr. Bryant was the delivery 
of an address at the unveiling of a 
bust of Mazzini in Central Park, New 
York. He spoke in the open air, a 
friend holding an umbrella over his 
head during its delivery, but while he 



CHRONOLOGY. 



«25 



was delivering tlie peroration he stood 
ill tlie glare of the sun. Immerliately 
upon reaching the house of his friends, 
■where he was invited to dine, lie fell 
insensible upon the threshold, but re- 
covered so as to reach his home the 
same day, from which he never again 
departed until lie was carried to his 
long home in the beautiful cemetery. 
Mr. Bryant was born in Cummingtoii, 
Mass., in 1794. At the age of ten he 
was a very precocious boy, and an ad- 
vanced scholar for his years. He be- 
gan writing verses at that age, and 
when thirteen he wrote a political sat- 
ire in rhyme which was widely pub- 
lished. At sixteen he entered Wil- 
liams College as a Sophomore, and re- 
mained two years ; but his father not 
being able to pay his expenses, he 
left college and began the study of 
law, and was admitted to the bar at 
the age of twenty-one. He continued 
the practice of law till he accepted the 
editorial chair of the Ecenii>g Post. 
He wrote " Thanatopsis " when but 
seventeen, and six years later his fa- 
ther, finding it among his papers, sent 
it to the North Amcriam Review for 
publication. When twenty -one he 
was persuaded to publish a volume of 
poems, which appeared under the title 
of "The Ages." These, with the lit- 
erary gem, "Thanatopsis," established 
his reputation as a poet of the first 
order. In 182.5 Mr. Bryant became 
connected with the New York Evening 
Post, which he has since edited with 
great ability. Mr. Bryant was quite 
an extensive traveler, having visited 
the principal parts of his own country 
and made several trips to Europe; 
also a visit to ligypt and Syria. Dur- 
ing his travels he wrote letters of de- 
scription to the Post. In his seventy- 
first year he began the translation of 
the "Iliad" from the Greek, laboring 
four years upon it. He then translated 
the " Odyssey," which required two 
years. Since the completion of his 
translation of Homer, in connection 
with Mr. Gay, he began a history of 
the United States, which, when com- 
pleted, would fill several volumes, but 
which he left unfinished. By this rec- 
ord of his labors, we see that he was 
an untiring worker, and whatever his 
hands or brain found to do, he did 
with his might, and lived almost to 
the age oi fourscore and ten. 



Judge Breese. 

June 27. Death of Sydney Breese, 
Judge of the Illinois Supreme Court, 
at Pinckneyville, III. For twenty-five 
years Judge Breese had filled this hon- 
orable and important position with 
eminent ability. Be was a finished 
scholar, a distinguished jurist, a useful 
and valued citizen, and an honest 
man. The bar of Chicago joined with 
that of the State, and sent a delegation 
to pay their honors to the memory of 
the venerable and renowned Judge. 
The Aug of the State-House dome was 
at half-mast, and special trains were 
tendered by the Ohio and Mississippi 
Kailroadon the occasion of the funeral. 

Agitation 'of the third "Presidential 
term " question, in reference to the 
election of ex-President Grant for a 



third term as President of the United 
States. 

June^JuIy. Mots in St. Louis between 
the Mayor and his marshals and the 
Metropohtan police ; also between the 
Illinois and St. Louis Railroad Com- 
pany and the citizens. 

June-July. Gen. John C. Fremont con- 
firmed as Governor of Arizona. 

Julv. Indian outbreak in Washington 
Territory. Battle of Willow Springs ; 
43 soldiers killed. Generals Howard 
and Miles finally rout the Indians. 

July. National Hebrew Convention in 
Milwaukee, Wis., composed of the 
leading orthodox Jews of the United 
States. 

July 2. Burning of the Anchor Line 
steamer " Ciiiiital City," on the Missis- 
sijjpi Hivcr at Memphis, during a stifi' 
gale ; the flames communicating with a 
large elevator, it was also burned down. 
Twenty bags of Government mail were 
destroyed, and two lives lost. The 
total loss from the fire was $250,000. 

From Quebec io the Gulf of Mexico 
in a Paper Canoe. 
July 4. Nathaniel H. Bishop started 
from Quebec, Canada, with a large 
canoe with sails, to make a trip to the 
Gulf of Mexico. He exchanged his 
boat for a paper canoe on the way in 
one of the New England ports, and 
went on his way, perlonning the jour- 
ney pleasantly and safely in nine 
weeks' time. 

Stitro Tunnel. 
July 8. Completion of the Sutro Tunnel, 
which connects the Conistock and Sav- 
age silver mines in Nevad.a. The tun- 
nel was designed and constructed by 
Adolpli Sutro. He was nine years en- 
gaged in this wonderful enterprise, 
which, for the vastness of the under- 
taking, and the many obstacles to 
overcome, challenges the admiration of 
the world, as one of the most gigan- 
tic feats in the history of modern engi- 
neering. 

This tunnel is located over 2,000 feet 
below the surface of the earth, and is 
four miles in length, being ten feet 
high by fourteen in width. Its object 
is to facilitate the operations in the 
mines — to save the enormous expense 
of pumping water and of hoisting ore 
2,000 feet by machinery; of transport- 
ing miners to the different drifts, with 
increased safety to life and limb ; the 
enormous saving in wood and steam- 
power, and securing ventilation in the 
mines. The cost of this wonderful 
enterprise was §3,500,000 in gold. 

Mr. Sutro, after repeated efibrts to 
secure assistance in California among 
the great mining stockholders, who 
repeatedly pledged their assistance 
and as often violated their pledges, and 
failing to raise sulBcient means iu New 
York, owing to the adverse influence 
brought to bear against him by the 
California capitalists, he repaired to 
England, and, after repeated efl'urts, 
succeeded in securing suflicient aitl 
from the great English house of M. 
Calniot Bros, to complete his gigantic 
undertaking. 

Mr. Sutro will be gratefully remem- 
bered when the powerful moneyed 



1878. capitalists who combined against him 
and Ids enterprise sliall slumber in 
forgotten graves, and liis name will 
long be revered by those who go down 
into the bowels of the earth to bring 
forth its treasures to enrich the sods 
of men. 

Orangemen. 

" July 13. Panic in Montreal caused by a 
threatened riot among the Orangemen 
and Catholics upon the contemplated 
grand parade of the Orangemen on 
that day. Great excitement prevailed 
in the city, and mobs were form ng 
among the Irish Catholic-; to prevent 
their marching. The alarm became 
a real panic, when the Mayor sent 
for several thousand of Government 
troops, who dis;.ciscd the Orangemen 
without bloodshed, and quiet was 
once more restored. This was the 
second attempt in Montreal to break 
up the parade of the Orangemen in 
that city by the Catholic element, 
a riot having occurred in 1877. 

The histoi-ij of the Oranffemen dates 
back to Nov. 21, 1088, when the Order 
first had an existence. It was estab- 
li.<lied at Kxeter, Kngland, and a dec- 
laration of its principles was drawn 
up by Bishop Burnet, the sianera 
pledging themselves to support William, 
Prince of Orange, who was a Protest- 
ant. The Order was then called the 
" Orange Confederation," and has 
been perpetuated in England and 
Ireland under difterent names ever 
since. The first Orange Lodge dates 
back to September 21, 1795, its pro- 
claimed object being self-defense, 
maintenance of Protestantism, and of 
British domination. It spread very 
rapidly. Its first Grand Master in 
Ireland was Thomas Verner. In 1837 
it became established in Cana;1a. and 
has since been one of the institutions 
of the country. Ogle R. Gowan was 
the first Grand Master of Canada. 
They are strongly loyal to the British 
Government, and a large majority of 
the public men belong to the Order. 
It wields a strong politi al influence 
in Canada, and has 1,()60 lodg. s, with 
a membership of 200,000. 

Sunstrokes. 

" July 20. During the week ending .July 
20, 145 persons died from excessive 
heat in the city of St. Louis, Mo., and 
over 50 in Chicago. 

" July 20. Death of "Minnie Warren," 
the dwarf-wife of Maj. Newell (iilso a 
dwarf) and sister of Jlrs. Tom Thumb. 

" July 29. Total eclipse of the sun, seen in 
the United States in a path IIG miles 
wide, extending through the Western 
Territories, from the British Posses- 
sions to the Gulf of Mexico. 

" For the year ending with July, \%7%, fif- 
teen Mollie Maguires were hung. 

" July-Aug. Unprecedented and ^Jrolonged 
/(»;< all over the United States. Great 
suifering and many deaths in conse- 
quence. 

" Aug. 7. Fearful disaster on the Pan- 
Handle Railroad, caused by a collision 
between an emigrant passenger train 
and a freight train. 15 persons were 
killed outright and 50 injured. 

" Aug. 7-9. Terrible storms in Central 



CHRONOLOGY. 



1878. Illinois, sweeping across the State, 
doing much damage. 
" Aug. 9-10. Uiqirectdented rain-storms, 
accompanied by the most terrific 
electrical discharges, and with hail of 
imusual size, visited New England 
Northern New York, and a part oif 
Eastern Ontario, extending over a space 
of GOO miles. Four persons were killed 
by lightning, 50 were shocked, and 50 
buildings were burned and about that 
number injured. 
'' Aug.-Sept. Chinese Emlassy, among 
whom were several Chinese ladies, visit 
the United States. They arrive in 
San Francisco and cross the Conti- 
nent by rail, visiting the chief cities 
on their way to Washington, where 
they were cordially received by the 
President and his Cabinet. 
•' Sept. 3-8. Grand parade and national 
tournament of firemen in Chicago ; pro- 
cession three miles in length. 



Sept. 12. Unprecedented rain-storm, 
accompanied by heavy wind, through 
Western Ontario, Ohio, and Pennsyl- 
vania. 100 bridges swept away in 
Ontario, and the damage to property 
in Ntrthern Ohio alone, amounted to 
$3,000,000. 

Silver BUI. 

Siher hill passed both Houses of Congress 
by more than a two-thirds vote. It was 
vetoed by President Hayes, but im- 
mediately passed again over his veto. 
Under this law the United States Mint 
proceeded to coin the new silver dollar. 

Sugar made from the common corn-stalk, 
by Prof. Collier, chemist of the Agri- 
cultural Department. 

Sept. 15. Railroad disaster at Tariff- 
i)ille, Conn. An over-crowded excur- 
sion train, returning from the Moody 
and Sankey meetings at Hartford, fell 



through a trestle-bridge, and 16 per- 
sons were killed and 40 injured. 

Yellotv Fever. 

Aug.-Oct. Terrible visitation of yellow 
fever in the South. It first made its 
appearance in New Orleans, and rapid- 
ly spread to the cities and towns along 
the Mississippi River, carrying conster- 
nation and death into every household. 
The people fled in terror and dismay, 
until some towns were almost depopu- 
lated. To October 4th there were 
10,318 cases and 3,060 deaths in New 
Orleans, and the fever still raging. 
The suffering from destitution was 
fearful, and 40,000 were reported Oc- 
tober 1st as destitute of the means of 
subsistence. Immense subscriptions 
and donations of money, clothing, and 
food were sent from the North. 



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